Running back David Wilson hasn’t seen too many chances in his rookie season, but that could all change tomorrow.
With backup running back Andre Brown (concussion) listed out for Sunday’s game in San Francisco, Wilson will fill in behind Ahmad Bradshaw and hopes to build off his last carry, a 40-yard touchdown run against the Browns, which gave a peek at the potential of the Giants’ first-round pick.
“Now I look at it like every two carries I got to score a touchdown,” Wilson said jokingly yesterday, after running for 44 yards on two carries in the 41-27 win over the Browns. “It does give me the confidence to go out there, with the touchdown, with the limited plays I had that game, I’m going to go out there and see what I can do with more carries, see if I can be as productive.”
With Wilson’s speed and elusiveness, he already has been productive on special teams and is tied for the NFL lead with three kick returns of more than 40 yards, a role he will remain in tomorrow. On Thursday, offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride said the team is “trying to expand his role as fast as we can,” and this week Wilson said he received a heavy increase in offensive reps in practice.
Though the Virginia native is excited at the opportunity to see more carries, having rushed eight times this season for 52 yards, Wilson still said he knows there will only be so many chances as a backup. It is a role he is comfortable in, having played the change-of-pace role many times before, and it doesn’t change his game.
“’I’m going to try to make something explosive happened,” Wilson said. “I never came anywhere and been just the starting running back. I’ve always been like a situational back. This is nothing new for me. I’m just preparing and am going to be ready when the coaches call my name so I take full advantage.”
Yards won’t come easy against a tough 49ers defense, but every week, with more time on the field, Wilson said the game will only get easier.
“I’m just getting used to the flow of the game,” Wilson said. “Each level is different. With the experience you get, you just get better with the flow of the game and you get more used to it. I can’t go as fast as I want to because I’m still getting my feet wet.”
It still may be fast enough.