David Wilson knows everyone is waiting for his eruption, waiting for that uncommon speed and those you-got-to-be-kidding moves to translate into something more than exploits strewn around social media videos.
Wilson knows it, knows now that he has been given medical clearance to resume his career, now that he has vaulted over a serious issue with his neck — the moment has come for him to turn promise into production.
“I think the fans really want to see me prosper this year, and my teammates as well,” Wilson said Monday as the Giants reported for training camp. “I’ve been waiting for that moment and I think it’s time.”
Yup, it’s time. This is the start of Wilson’s third NFL season and thus far his status as the Giants’ 2012 first-round draft pick is far from a badge of honor.
His play has been uneven, spectacular and bumbling in wild swings of highlights and lowlights.
He received the news he needed to jump-start his play at running back, as he learned about 9 a.m. Monday his latest CT-scan revealed his neck is fully healed from the fusion surgery necessitated by a herniated disk that ended his 2013 season after only five games.
It was a needed boost for a team that was not shocked but unquestionably shaken on the same day by the retirement announcement of right guard Chris Snee.
“Coming off an injury, missing a lot of games, I’m definitely anxious to get out there and make plays and score a touchdown and be out there and have fun and win games with my team,” Wilson said.
Wilson suffered a herniated disk Oct. 6 against the Eagles, ending his season. He underwent fusion surgery in January, and maintained all along he never experienced any pain.
Still, the Giants proceeded cautiously with Wilson, who also has spinal stenosis, a narrowing of the spinal cord.
During the spring, general manager Jerry Reese said anything the team got from Wilson would be “a bonus” and went out and signed Rashad Jennings from the Raiders to move in as a feature runner.
Reese also selected Andre Williams out of Boston College in the fourth round of the draft to go along with veteran Peyton Hillis and second-year player Michael Cox.
While there appears to be some depth, Wilson was taken so high in the draft for a reason, as the Giants view him as a guy who can make a big play from anywhere on the field.
“I know last year was a tough year with the injury but he got some playing experience and [he] been around in the spring,” Eli Manning said. “It has him in that mix at running back. He is a special athlete. He does have a lot of great skills and we’ve got to find a way to get him the ball in his hands and let him make some big plays.”
Wilson said the doctors told him he does not need to wear any protective gear on his neck and has no physical restrictions.
Coach Tom Coughlin, though, said he will bring Wilson along slowly and admitted “It’s going to be a little bit difficult” to resist the temptation to use Wilson on kickoff returns, where he excelled as a rookie.
“We’ve got to wait and see how this thing has affected his overall game,” Coughlin said. “He definitely has a place.”
After an early fumble in the season opener against the Cowboys, Wilson landed in Coughlin’s doghouse and was benched. The veteran head coach sees the effervescence Wilson brings to any room he’s in.
“Quite frankly, he’s an amazing kid,” Coughlin said. “I know we’re talking about a very, very serious, serious injury, but about two weeks after the surgery he’s in the weight room and I got to slow him down…He’s over there doing stuff with his legs. So hopefully it will go this way as we bring him along. He wants to do everything now. He’s out there running back and forth like it’s nobody’s business.”
Indeed, Wilson’s body looks more chiseled than ever. As he said, it’s time.