National Football League

On mend from neck surgery, Giants RB David Wilson cleared

Published Jul. 21, 2014 6:29 p.m. ET

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New York Giants running back David Wilson has been cleared for contact work after recovering from neck surgery.

Although he attended offseason workouts with the Giants, Wilson was held back from many activities by the team's medical staff until Monday, when the team reported for training camp.

"I got cleared this morning," Wilson said. "That was the best news I'd gotten in a while."

New York's first practice is Tuesday, and the Giants play on Aug. 3 in the Hall of Fame game against Buffalo.

Wilson said the doctors gave him permission to return with no restrictions.

"I can play regular football with no special equipment, no medication, or anything else," he said. "No real concerns. I'm just excited, most definitely. I'm ready to get back out there and compete."

The 2012 first-round draft pick appeared in only five games last season after a solid rookie year in which he led the league in kickoff returns with a 26.9-yard average. He's also had some issues with fumbling.

Wilson was injured last Oct. 6 and underwent fusion surgery on a disk in January. He also has spinal stenosis, a narrowing of the spinal cord.

The Giants added running back Rashad Jennings from the Raiders and he is likely to start this season. They also drafted Andre Williams of Boston College, the nation's leading rusher in 2013.

That, Wilson says, makes for a crowded -- and talented -- backfield.

"We're all going to be out here," he said. "We have guys striving toward being great or trying to be great and helping the team win. That's when you get a team effort, when everybody is pushing everybody."