New York Giants Official Website

  Wilkinson Placed on IR
   By Michael Eisen, Giants.com

NOVEMBER 11, 2009

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ -The Giants have lost their leading special teams tackler for the season and replaced him with a rookie cornerback.

Gerris Wilkinson, who leads the team with 12 special teams tackles (seven solo) was placed on injured reserve today. He dislocated in right wrist in the Giants' 21-20 loss to the San Diego Chargers and underwent surgery yesterday.

To take his place on the roster, the Giants signed cornerback D.J. Johnson off the Denver Broncos' practice squad. Johnson, 6-1 and 191 pounds, was signed on April 27 as a rookie free agent from Jackson State. He was waived by Denver on Sept. 5 and signed to the practice squad two days later.

"We had really liked this young man for quite some time - D.J. Johnson," Coach Tom Coughlin said. "And with the opportunity, unfortunately with Gerris Wilkinson being injured and Gerris going on IR, we did have a roster spot. So we made the invitation and fortunately for us the young man decided to come.

"He has played corner, he has played safety. He has played well on special teams. He did have a good grade going in. Our pro scouting department had tracked him during the preseason, etc. So we felt good about him."

Wilkinson is the fourth player - and third from the defense - to go on injured reserve. The others are defensive tackle Jay Alford, safety Kenny Phillips and rookie running back Andre Brown.

This is the second season in a row Wilkinson's season was cut short by injury. In 2008, he played in only eight games after hurting his knee at Cleveland on Oct. 13. He was inactive for six games before returning at Washington on Nov. 30. But he suffered a knee sprain at Dallas on Dec. 14 and was inactive for the remainder of the season.

Wilkinson has played in all 16 games just once, as a rookie in 2006.

Jackson, who will wear No. 29, played 24 career games in two seasons at Jackson State after beginning his collegiate career at the University of Missouri. He had 66 tackles (52 solo) and 10 interceptions, two of which he returned for touchdowns. Jackson also had 27 pass breakups and five kickoff returns for 120 yards, a forced fumble and one blocked kick with Jackson State.

He was named second-team All- America by the Associated Press and first-team All-Southwestern Athletic Conference as a senior after leading his team and placing third in his conference with five interceptions, including one returned for a touchdown. Jackson was selected as the Defensive MVP of the 2007 SWAC Championship Game during a junior season in which he started 12 games and had a team-high five interceptions.

Jackson played seven games with four starts at Missouri and had 17 tackles. At LaMarque High School in LaMarque, Texas he played football, basketball and track. Jackson majored in psychology at Jackson State.

He was born on Nov. 7, 1985.

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