There might not be anyone around the Giants who needs a fresh start more than Gerris Wilkinson, which is why when fellow linebacker Michael Boley approached Wilkinson about acquiring uniform No. 59 there was no hesitation.
Boley made an offer and Wilkinson gladly accepted, as there was no emotional attachment to a jersey he wore for four years of nondescript service and negligible impact. Boley now has No. 59, Wilkinson is set to embark on his fifth NFL season wearing No. 58 and hopes the new look brings better results.
“Fifty-nine hasn’t been super lucky for me over the past few years so I was kind of looking forward to changing the number,” Wilkinson said recently. “I know 58 comes with a lot of stuff behind it, in terms of [Antonio Pierce] and Carl Banks. I think people see it more as a middle linebacker-type number so I was happy with the change.”
Wilkinson has Pierce’s old number and now wants to inhabit the middle linebacker job Pierce left behind after a serious neck injury prematurely ended his 2009 season and likely ended his career. Giants fans no doubt will roll their eyes at this notion, as Wilkinson has been a tease and a disappointment since he was taken out of Georgia Tech in the third round of the 2006 NFL Draft.
Early in his career, he always seemed to be rehabbing one ailment or another and injuries curtailed each of his past two seasons. He’s played in 46 games and made only seven starts.
“It’s been a pretty rocky road for me so far but I feel I’ve never been so excited and so focused going into a season,” Wilkinson said. “I’ve had a lot of time to kind of get my feet on the ground in terms of being in the NFL, being with the Giants. I’m very, very ready for the season.”
At 6-foot-3 and 231 pounds, Wilkinson strikes an impressive pose and there’s no doubt he’s more than athletic enough to handle a lead role. His instincts, durability and toughness all must be proven, though, and after spending all his time trying and failing to win a spot on the weak side will move inside and join a crowded, suspect field in the middle.
Third-year Jonathan Goff is first in line and rookie Phillip Dillard is also getting some reps with the first-team defense during organized team activities. Wilkinson has to thrust himself up the depth chart in what likely is his final shot at sticking with the Giants. He’s in the final year of his contract and signed his tender for $1.17 million for this season.
“It’s crazy,” Wilkinson said. “When I came in me and Chase [Blackburn] were the two young guys and now it’s four years later and we’re the old guys. It’s kind of crazy just looking back on it. I do have a little bit more experience than a lot of the guys that are on the team right now, so I think that will help me out in terms of the competition for the position.”
Moving to a new position, Wilkinson sees his greatest challenge as dealing with drops in pass coverage from the middle of the field. He says he gets nothing but positive vibes from new defensive coordinator Perry Fewell.
“I really have no idea what they’re thinking about right now,” Wilkinson said. “I just know once I get on the field I think I’m going to surprise a lot of people this year.”