NFL’s C.J. Wilson Reportedly Loses Two Fingers In Fireworks Accident

As NFL teams prepare to kick-off the upcoming season with summer training camps, C.J. Wilson, a defensive back for the NFL’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers, has reportedly suffered a significant injury to one of his hands, Wilson’s injury the result of a fireworks accident in Florida over the Fourth of July holiday weekend.

C.J. Wilson’s hometown newspaper, the Lincoln Times-News, reports that Wilson actually lost two of his fingers in the fireworks mishap while lighting off fireworks at his Lincolnton home with family and “close friends.”

Lincolnton is also home to Wilson’s Alma mater, Lincolnton High School, where C.J starred on the gridiron as well.

While details and the exact severity of the Tampa Bay defensive back’s injuries are not yet known, close family friends and reliable sources have confirmed to the Lincoln News-Times that C.J. Wilson did, in fact, lose two fingers in the fireworks accident.

C.J. Wilson was scheduled to start Tampa Bay Buccaneers training camp in a few weeks, but Wilson’s prospects for this season, and his future with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, remains to be seen.

At the same time, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers organization said in a Wednesday afternoon statement that they were aware of the situation and that their primary concern was for C.J. Wilson’s well-being and “long-term health.”

“We are aware that C.J. was involved in an accident that occurred over the July 4th holiday. It is our understanding that the injury occurred to one of his hands and our primary concern at this moment is for his long-term health. We have been in contact with C.J. and are continuing to monitor the situation.”

ESPN reports that C.J. Wilson’s agent, Joel Turner, also confirmed his Tampa Bay client’s injury.

Turner wouldn’t get into any specifics about what happened in the fireworks accident, or details of C.J. Wilson’s injuries, and said any questions about Wilson and the current situation should be directed to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

However, a source with the Buccaneers did further confirm that C.J. Wilson had suffered a serious injury in the fireworks mishap, telling ESPN NFL Insider‘s Ed Werder, that the Tampa Bay defensive back’s injury was “significant.”

C.J. Wilson played in two games for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last season and racked up four tackles. This year would mark the end of a two-year contract he has with Tampa Bay that includes a non-guaranteed base salary of $585,000.

C.J. Wilson isn’t the only NFL player to suffer a fireworks related injury over the Fourth of July, as Jason Pierre-Paul, a defensive end for the New York Giants, also received severe hand injuries from a bad run-in with fireworks, and reportedly is having a finger amputated because of the accident.

The injuries to C.J. Wilson and Pierre-Paul are reminders of the potential dangers of fireworks, though some such injuries could be prevented with just a little common sense.

[Image by Joe Robbins, Getty Images Sport]