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EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. –** David Wilson's wait continues, but today he took another significant step closer toward a full return to the football field.
"There has been significant progress and healing since David had the fusion," said Dr. Russell Warren, the Giants' team physician. "But the reality is it has only been four and one-half months since the surgery. We anticipate that when David is re-evaluated at the start of training camp he will be cleared at that point."
"Everything I got this morning was good news – there was nothing bad or negative," Wilson said. "I'm very pleased and very blessed for my healing process to continue."
Giants players will report to training camp on July 21.
Wilson, the Giants' first-round draft choice in 2012, suffered a herniated disc in his neck against the Philadelphia Eagles on Oct. 6. Although he hoped to return to the field, he was inactive for three games before being placed on season-ending injured reserve on Nov. 7.
On Jan. 16, Dr. Frank Cammisa performed spinal fusion surgery on Wilson at the Hospital for Special Surgery in Manhattan. Wilson was examined this morning by Cammisa.
"I sat down today and Dr. Cammisa showed me the X-rays and the CAT scan and my surgery has been successful," Wilson said. "We're just waiting for the bone to heal strong enough for contact. The doctors will know when that point is. I feel perfectly fine."
Wilson has been working in a limited capacity during the Giants' organized team activities (OTS's).
"When the defense is on the field, that's the only time I'm not participating," he said. "I can do anything and everything that's asked of me at this point. I'm removed when it's defense vs. offense so as not to have an accident. I'm catching passes, taking handoffs from the quarterbacks and getting reps with the offense without the defense.
Check out the top photos of RB David Wilson
"There's no need to have contact (now). We want to wait until it's fused all the way, but there's no need to have unnecessary contact at an unnecessary point in the season. We don't have full contact in OTAs, anyway. We don't have pads on. Any contact that happens in the OTAs is accidental and wasn't meant to happen. There's no need for me to go out there and have an accident that takes us backward when we've come so far and my surgery went well and I'm making such good progress. There's no need for me to go out there and have an accident. We're just working hard and I'm learning the playbook. As long as I'm getting my mental reps, I think the coaches believe in my athletic ability to take over after that and I'll be just fine."
Wilson is confident that will begin to happen next month in training camp.
"That's what I believe," Wilson said. "As I've been telling everybody, I feel fine. I've been able to work out. Dr. Cammisa this morning gave the go-ahead to do more in the weight room and be more active in the weight room and be more active in OTAs. Everything I heard today was excellent."
As a rookie in 2012, Wilson set a franchise record with 1,533 kickoff return yards. He also rushed for 358 yards and four touchdowns. Last year, he was limited to 44 rushing attempts and nine kickoff returns. Wilson will be part of a talented and deeper Giants backfield that includes veteran acquisition Rashad Jennings, fourth-round draft choice Andre Williams and holdovers Peyton Hillis and Michael Cox.
