NFL: Chicago Bears at Green Bay Packers

Packers running back James Starks could be on the Giants' radar when free agency begins in March.

(Benny Sieu/USA Today)

Giants running David Wilson underwent successful neck surgery on Thursday for a herniated disk in his spine. The club expects him to be ready for next season but nothing is certain when dealing with the delicate neck and spine areas.

That Wilson plays the physically demanding and punishing position of running back complicates matters.

Giants general manager Jerry Reese has said he'll put together a "contingency plan" just in case Wilson is slow to recover and I think our guy Conor Orr has uncovered a strong candidate in Packers free agent running back James Starks.

Obviously, Starks knows new offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo’s system. But more importantly, he’s just 27 years old, has low-mileage and won’t break the bank.

Starks, 6-foot-2, 218 pounds, rushed for 493 yards and three touchdowns on 89 carries (5.5-yard average) last season. For his career, the fourth-year pro has 322 attempts for 1,427 yards and five touchdowns, the equivalent of one season as a featured back. He also has 45 receptions for 351 yards and a touchdown in 35 career games.

Furthermore, with the Packers committed to rookie Eddie Lacy, Starks is likely looking for a change of scenery. By the way, he's a Niagara Falls, N.Y. native who attended the University of Buffalo.

What do you think? Have you seen a lot of Starks? Would he be a viable backup plan?

MORE GIANTS, NFL FROM THE STAR-LEDGER & NJ.COM:

• Giants free agents: Will Big Blue show Linval Joseph the money?

• Politi: NFL needs to increase the degree of difficulty for its too-perfect kickers.

• Why Kellen Winslow and Ben McAdoo are among this week's winners and losers.

• NFL Playoffs: The X-factors in the Seahawks-49ers NFC Championship game.

• Giants video chat archives: Conor Orr and Jordan Raanan talk about coaching changes and more.

