NFL

David Wilson has neck injury that could end his season

Giants running back David Wilson is trying to keep his spirits up as he battles a neck injury, which he said has been diagnosed by doctors as spinal stenosis.

Although Wilson, who will get a second opinion on the injury, hopes to be back by the time the Giants face the Vikings on Oct. 21, he’s not sure if that will happen. In fact, he answered “Yeah” when asked if he fears the injury could be season-ending.

“But I keep faith and I try to stay positive. Best-case scenario I’ll be back ready for the Minnesota Vikings,’’ Wilson said. “[Spinal stenosis is] what they think it is. They said I should feel some pain, but I don’t. That’s why I’m going for the second opinion.’’

That second opinion will come from specialist Dr. Robert Watkins, whom Wilson will see Monday in Los Angeles. According to the Mayo Clinic, spinal stenosis is a narrowing of the open spaces within the spine, which can put pressure on the spinal cord and the nerves that travel through the spine.

Giants coach Tom Coughlin, somewhat more optimistic, didn’t seem to think the injury would be season-ending.

“That’s not the way that it was presented to me,’’ Coughlin said. “The thing that gave me some confidence is David had an occurrence of this in college.

“It’s a disk issue and they’ll determine the severity of it and whether or not over the course of a couple weeks, 3, 4 weeks, if that can become a better circumstance. Then he’d have a chance to come back and play. If it’s determined that’s not the case, we’ll go from there.’’

Wilson got hurt in last Sunday’s loss to Philadelphia and missed Thursday’s loss in Chicago.

“They’re just telling me to sit out until further notice. I’m just as clueless as y’all are,’’ Wilson said. “It really doesn’t make any sense to me right now. But people say “Oh, but it’s the neck and it’s serious.” But I feel like if I’m fine and I’m willing to go out there and sacrifice to play with my team, it’s the sport I love, that’s my choice.’’

Wilson nearly got tackled for a safety on the last play of the first quarter versus the Eagles, with his entire body going numb.

“I was kind of shocked and waiting for the feeling to come back. Halfway to the sideline, jogging to the sideline, the feeling came back,’’ said Wilson, who admitted trying to sneak back into the game before being intercepted by the team doctors.

“I actually snuck out of the X-ray room,” he said. “I put my equipment on and tried to sneak back into the game. But the doctors saw me before I could get on the field and stopped me. We had a little argument and he was telling me how serious it was and I was telling him how serious it wasn’t. After the coaches heard that argument, there was no question I wasn’t going back in.’’

Asked if the Giants’ 0-6 mark makes him more apt to take his time recovering, Wilson replied: “No, never. I like playing football and I like being out there with my teammates. Win or lose I want to be out there fighting with them. That’s the most frustrating part, feeling like I do, healthy, and then having just a picture hold me up.’’