The Calgary Stampeders’ Brett Jones, centre, does drills with teammates during a practice sessionJeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press
The New York Giants have signed Canadian centre Brett Jones and waived 2012 first-round draft pick running back David Wilson, whose career was cut short by a neck injury.
The Giants announced the moves Wednesday, a little more than a month before free agency opens.
Jones, 6-foot-2 and 315 pounds, played the last two seasons for the Calgary Stampeders, helping the team to the Grey Cup title last season. He played his college ball in Regina, was chosen the CFL's top rookie in 2013 and its most outstanding lineman last season.
J.D. Walton started at centre for the Giants (6-10) in 2014. Coach Tom Coughlin said after the season he was planning to move guard Weston Richburg to centre for his second season in the league. Now there is a lot of competition.
"It has always been a goal and a dream of mine to play in the NFL," Jones said Wednesday after signing his contract. "This is the first step, and I look forward to taking many more."
Jones started 39 games the past two seasons, 38 at centre.
"I am coming from the Canadian style, where they (the defence) are one yard off the ball," he said. "I know that there is going to be a learning curve to that."
Wilson was the 32nd overall selection in the 2012 NFL draft. He suffered a neck injury in the fifth game of his second NFL season and was placed on injured reserve a month later. Wilson participated in training camp last year, but was forced to leave a July 29 practice after suffering a burner, which caused numbness in his hands and lower extremities.
The Giants announced in August that team doctors advised Wilson that he should no longer play football. Wilson, 23, was placed on injured reserve, ending a 21-game pro career.