Giants Country

Giants DL Leonard Williams Offers Positive Update on His Neck Ailment

Leonard Williams told reporters his neck issue from last season is much better and that he's optimistic about the year ahead.

Patricia Traina

Giants DL Leonard Williams Offers Positive Update on His Neck Ailment
Giants DL Leonard Williams Offers Positive Update on His Neck Ailment /
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Months after New York Giants defensive lineman Leonard Williams struggled through the 2022 season with a painful neck ailment that cut into his practice time and caused him to miss some games for the first time in his career, the 28-year-old was back with a positive report.

"It's good," Williams told reporters Wednesday after the team wrapped up its two-day on-field minicamp work. "I think during the season, it was hard to recover just because every time I made a tackle, I would feel it. It wasn't going to go away till the season ended. I've had a few months off now since football. I've been back in the weight room. I haven't been feeling it at all."

Williams was fortunate in that he didn't need surgery to address the problem. Instead, he said he rested and strengthened his neck by doing a lot of shrugs and neck exercises to improve the muscles in the area, which were taking a pounding due to the constant beating he experienced as part of his job.

He added that he'd probably wear a neck roll for added protection.

"Near the end of the season, I started wearing a small type of roll," he said. "It was hard for me to get used to. I had to change it up a little bit in practice. Sometimes I would get in my stance, try to look up, and it was restricting my vision. I finally found that sweet spot that would protect me when I make a hit and something I could also see in my stance. I think I'm going to keep using that so it doesn't happen again."

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Williams is in an interesting spot in that he's in the final year of his contract, a year in which he has a $32 million cap hit. He's also taken quite the pounding over his career, his performances marred by injuries the last two seasons as his snap percentage reached unusually high numbers for a defensive lineman.

Despite that, Williams said he is still feeling spry, given his NFL mileage.

"I'm definitely not feeling older," he said. "We have this chart with our GPS trackers that show our high-end speed, short 10-yard sprints. I pride myself on always being first on that list. You know what I mean? I still have my explosiveness; I still have my power. Honestly, I feel like I know the game more. I have a lot more years in me. I joke around about the age because this is a young team."

As for whether Williams will be a part of the team beyond this season remains up in the air.

"There hasn't been many talks about it this off-season," he said, adding, "I'm obviously open to staying here. I think I have a good camaraderie with my teammates. I would love to keep playing with (Dexter Lawrence). I would love to keep playing with these coaches that I've gotten to know.

"I'm also not one of those players that wants to bounce around from team to team. I want to be able to be here. Been through the grind and the struggle of being with the Giants since I've been here, coming out on the good end, eventually getting a ring with them."

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Patricia Traina
PATRICIA TRAINA

Patricia Traina has covered the New York Giants for over three decades for various media outlets. She is the host of the Locked On Giants podcast and the author of "The Big 50: New York Giants: The Men and Moments that Made the New York Giants" (Triumph Books, September 2020). View Patricia's full bio.

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