NFL

Jacobs working out for Giants after Wilson struggles

Tom Coughlin was actually able to chuckle on Monday when asked if the Giants need a bigger running back, seeing that David Wilson was stopped for no gain from the Dallas 1-yard line in the season-opening 36-31 loss to the Cowboys.

“I think we need to block better, to be honest with you,’’ Coughlin said. “I wasn’t concerned about the goal line from the running backs standpoint. He ran it up in there hard, he just didn’t have much to work with.’’

No, the blocking of the reshaped offensive line was not good at all on that play, but Coughlin and the Giants at the moment have a more pressing need. Wilson took the baton in the backfield from Ahmad Bradshaw, who took it from Brandon Jacobs, who took it from Tiki Barber and Wilson has more pure physical talent than any of those 1,000-yard rushers. But Wilson also has a big problem when it comes to holding onto the ball.

“I’m not going to get into that yet’’ Coughlin said, when asked if Wilson, after losing two fumbles in the opener, remains the Giants starting running back.

“We’ll see what happens as we get started in the week,’’ Coughlin said.

There really isn’t much of a choice for Coughlin or the Giants, as they have almost no legitimate option other than Wilson. Da’Rel Scott, after Coughlin benched Wilson, played well but he was involved in the fateful play that killed off the Giants’ comeback chances when he failed to get the handle on an Eli Manning screen pass that was turned into the game-deciding interception and touchdown return for the Cowboys, the last of six turnovers by a team that couldn’t be stopped except when it stopped itself.

The only other running back on the roster is rookie Michael Cox, who is not nearly ready to be vaulted into a starting role. That brings us to the events transpiring on Tuesday, when among those attending the weekly workouts will be running backs Brandon Jacobs and Willis McGahee, with Joe McKnight also a possible attendee. Last week, the Giants took a look at running backs Beanie Wells, Leon Washington and Jonathan Dwyer.

“I thought Da’Rel did a good job [Sunday night] in a role he didn’t expect to get that many snaps, but he came in and did a good job,’’ Coughlin said. “I’m open and objective to whatever, whenever we have a workout comparing that individual to what we have. We’ll see what [Tuesday] brings.’’

Coughlin last season had to deal with fumbling issues from Wilson, who as a rookie lost the ball on his first NFL rushing attempt. At the time, though, Coughlin had Bradshaw and Andre Brown to carry the load while Wilson got tutored and rode the bench. This season, Bradshaw is with the Colts, Brown has a broken left leg and will miss the first half of the season.

“David Wilson’s a very talented young man we need on our football team to be productive,’’ Coughlin said. “We’ve been down this road before. We feel like we can have an impact on him being a better ball-carrier, a more secure ball-carrier. We’ll get that done.’’

Jacobs, 31, wants to return to the Giants after wasting last season doing virtually nothing for the 49ers. He is a big personality and bringing him back into the Giants locker room would be an interesting risk and create a different dynamic for Wilson, the 2012 first-round pick.

“I want to be back with big blue,’’ Jacobs wrote on his Twitter account. “I can’t let this opportunity pass me by.’’

A source said Jacobs has been working out in case a team calls, but the Giants are clearly his No. 1 choice and he would not be willing to go anywhere in the league in order to continue playing.

McGahee, 31, has played for the Bills, Ravens and Broncos. Last season he had 731 yards for the Broncos.

Is the fumbling problem with Wilson becoming a mental issue?

Coughlin said he spoke with Wilson on Monday and the second-year player is “anxious to improve.’’ He will get the chance this week.

“We did preach so much about [the Cowboys] being ball strippers and somehow some way that didn’t sink in,’’ Coughlin said. “He had the ball stripped twice. He’ll learn from it. He’s got great pride and we’ll try to get this under control.’’