Eric Herman would feel a lot worse about the play that ended David Wilson’s career if not for a pep talk from the man himself.
Herman, a second-year guard, wasn’t in a good mood after Wilson ran into his back on otherwise routine draw play in practice last week and aggravated the neck condition that prompted Wilson to retire Monday.
Herman knew the incident wasn’t his fault, but the 2013 seventh-round pick still was bothered by playing even an accidental role in a friend and teammate not being able to play football again.
“I was a little upset, to tell you the truth,” Herman told The Post on Tuesday. “You never want to see anyone get hurt on the field. Usually, as a blocker, you’re trying to keep everyone safe.”
But Herman’s conscience was cleared, and the Ohio University product is in a much better mood after Wilson — a bubbly figure and one of the most popular players in the Giants’ locker room — caught up with him the next day and absolved Herman of any blame.
“I wish David the best, and I talked to him about it a for while, and he’ll be all right,” Herman said. “There were no fingers being pointed at each other. It was just a tough situation.”
Herman said the play was so ordinary he is still shocked it had such a devastating impact on anyone involved. Wilson had lowered his head and suffered a “burner” — a pinched nerve in the neck — when he connected with Herman’s back.
The fact Wilson was injured so easily on a normal play combined with disk fusion surgery he underwent in January to address spinal stenosis caused doctors to advise the former first-round pick to call it a career after just two NFL seasons.
“It was just a regular draw play,” Herman said. “I was downfield, and we had some contact. I didn’t really see what was going on at first. I didn’t even know it was David who hit me in the back. I turned around and saw [Wilson on the ground] and said, ‘Oh man.’ ’’
The incident made Herman philosophical.
“That’s the story of this game,” he said. “People are going to have injuries. It just shows you have to take advantage of every play and don’t take anything for granted.”