There was a time when Al Wilson was one of the best linebackers in football, a tough, smart, athletic player who became a fan favorite with the Denver Broncos. But Wilson suffered a serious neck injury late in the 2006 season, an injury that the Broncos thought would end his career. The Giants were interested in him prior to the 2007 season, but he couldn't pass their physical, and he ended up sitting out the whole year. That doesn't mean Wilson's career is over, though.
Wilson has since been cleared to play medically. And Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk and Bill Williamson of the Denver Post report that Wilson is visiting the Lions today.
On the surface, Wilson seems like exactly the kind of linebacker who would be a perfect fit in Lions head coach Rod Marinelli's defense. Or at least, he would if this were 2005. But it's 2008, and Wilson is going to turn 31 in June, and he hasn't played football in more than a year, and a neck injury is nothing to mess around with. I'll be surprised if we see Wilson on a football field again. But I always enjoyed seeing Wilson play, and I hope I'm wrong.
