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Wilson out indefinitely after injury on Tuesday

By WTOP Staff

JIM HAGUE
Associated Press

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — New York Giants running back David Wilson will not practice for the rest of the week and is out for Sunday’s Hall of Fame game after suffering what the team called a “burner” in practice on Tuesday.

Late in Tuesday afternoon’s practice, Wilson took a short pass from backup quarterback Curtis Painter and ran with his head down into the back of reserve guard Eric Herman.

Soon after, Wilson was taken off the field by an assistant trainer.

After practice, Giants coach Tom Coughlin said that Wilson suffered a “burner.”

Wilson underwent fusion surgery to repair vertebrae and a herniated disc in his neck in January. Wilson had just received clearance to return to full action when the Giants began training camp last week.

On Wednesday morning, on the team’s scheduled day off from training camp, a team spokesman said that Wilson underwent tests at the Hospital for Special Surgery and that the 23-year-old former first-round selection would not practice for the remainder of the week.

Wilson will also not play when the Giants face the Buffalo Bills in the first preseason game of the year, the Hall of Fame Game in Canton, Ohio, on Sunday night.

According to team spokesman Pat Hanlon, Wilson will be “examined and evaluated” by Dr. Frank Cammisa of the Hospital for Special Surgery on Monday. Cammisa, the chief of spine services at HSS, was the specialist who performed the fusion surgery on Wilson on Jan. 16.

Wilson is entering his third season after the Giants selected him in the first round (32nd overall) of the 2012 draft out of Virginia Tech. He had a solid rookie season, rushing for 358 yards and scoring four touchdowns, while gaining 1,533 yards in kickoff returns, including a 97-yard return for a score.

In a game against the New Orleans Saints, Wilson set a team record for all-purpose yards, accumulating 327 yards in a 52-27 win. Wilson returned four kickoffs for 227 yards, including a 97-yarder for a touchdown, while rushing for 100 yards on 13 carries and two more touchdowns. He became the first player in NFL history to have 200 kick return yards and 100 yards rushing in the same game.

Wilson did not have a successful second season. After being counted on for being the team’s No. 1 running back, Wilson rushed for 146 yards on 44 carries (3.3 yards per rush) and lost three fumbles. He left the game against Philadelphia Oct. 6 with what was first believed to be a “stinger,” but was later diagnosed as being spinal stenosis, ending his season and forcing the January fusion surgery.

The surgery was believed to be career-threatening at that time, but Wilson, who claimed he never felt any pain at all through the process, was determined to return.

“I was staying positive and not hearing any of that,” Wilson said earlier this year. “It was weird, because it was hard to worry because I felt nothing. I did my research, weighed the pros and cons, and had the surgery. But I never felt any pain.”

___

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Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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