Giants first-round pick David Wilson appeared as though he’d be a big part of New York’s offense early in Wednesday night’s NFL opener. Wilson had earned it. He averaged nearly 4.7 yards per carry in the preseason, showing dynamic running ability that seemingly could add another dimension to Eli Manning’s supporting cast.
On his second carry midway through the first quarter against the Cowboys, though, Wilson was stripped of the football by linebacker Sean Lee. Wilson returned two kickoffs thereafter, but he didn’t play another offensive snap.
“It’s hard to put it behind you if that’s the last play you can remember,” Wilson said after the game, per Jorge Castillo of the Newark Star-Ledger. “But I understand the coaches. I know I don’t have much room for error being a rookie and then to have a critical error like that, like a turnover. You live and you learn and move forward.”
Wilson built a reputation as a fumbler in college, putting the ball on the ground seven times as a junior at Virginia Tech and losing four of them. He made it through the entire preseason without a fumble, but wasn’t holding the football tightly enough against his body when Lee popped the ball loose.
Wilson is now hoping to regain the coaching staff’s trust in the ten-day period between Wednesday night’s opener and next week’s game against the Buccaneers. All he can do is protect the ball in practice.
“I don’t know,” Wilson said. “I got to come up with something, though. I just have to go out and practice well.”