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Giants RB David Wilson Placed On Season-Ending IR, Career Likely Over

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (CBSNewYork/AP) — As painful as it is, he's decided to walk away.

New York Giants running back David Wilson's NFL career is over after two seasons because of a neck injury.

The 23-year-old Wilson was told by doctors Monday that he risked more serious problems if he kept playing.

He underwent fusion surgery to repair vertebrae and a herniated disk in his neck in January. At practice last Tuesday, Wilson caught a pass and ran with his head down into the back of an offensive lineman, a hit that caused numbness in his hands and lower extremities.

He missed the final 11 games last season after being diagnosed with spinal stenosis, a narrowing of the spinal cord.

"I don't want anybody to feel sorry for me, or pity me," he said in a statement released by the team. "I lived my dream. A lot of people only get to dream their dream. I lived that dream. Now I have a chance to dream another dream and live that, too."

Wilson was drafted in the first round, 32nd overall, out of Virginia Tech in 2012. As a rookie, he rushed for 358 yards and scored four touchdowns while making his mark as a kick returner. He got off to a slow start last season before the injury.

Wilson's condition is not expected to require additional surgery or therapy.

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