The health of New York Giants running back David Wilson has been a major question mark heading into the 2014 season, especially after needing neck surgery this winter after suffering from spinal stenoisis in 2013; an injury that has ended careers in the NFL before.
Some feel that Wilson might not even begin the season on the active roster and if his neck doesn't heal, he could either start the season on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) or Injured Reserve, which means the Giants will need options at running back.
Sure, they might re-sign Andre Brown as a free agent, but he has yet to show that he can stay healthy for a full season, and after that, there's not a lot of options, and the team could always turn back to a former Giant who knows the offense and knows how to handle the New York media and spotlight in Ahmad Bradshaw.
Bradshaw spent the 2013 season with the Indianapolis Colts but only played three games after suffering a neck injury in Week 3 which required season-ending surgery and landed him on season-ending IR, but Bradshaw actually told people that he could have played in December and it is expected that he will not re-sign with the Colts in 2014 given that they have Trent Richardson in the fold and will go with him and Vick Ballard, and Bradshaw will likely not fit into their plans. So how do the Giants fit in?
Well, on a one-year deal for the veteran minimum, Bradshaw could return to the place where he was drafted back in the seventh round of the 2007 NFL Draft and played six seasons for, plus won two Super Bowls during his time and give the Giants some much needed depth and veteran leadership that the position has lacked.
Last year, the Giants brought back Brandon Jacobs who was sitting at home on his couch when they called him and signed him for Week 2 and played up until getting hurt in late November and landing on season-ending IR and then announced his retirement from the NFL last month. Having that kind of familiarity of the offense is something the Giants and Tom Coughlin like to have and he's always been very find of Bradshaw, so if presented the opportunity, the Giants could always turn to him for 2014 and at least let him try to compete for a spot.
If Bradshaw isn't healthy, the Giants could always look to the draft and look for fresher legs, but if he is healthy and Bradshaw can play in 2014, bringing him back on a one-year deal and allowing him the chance to compete in training camp for a spot is a very realistic possibility.