San Francisco 49ers running back Jeff Wilson Jr. was nominated for the FedEx Ground NFL Player of the Week following an impressive 110-yard, one-touchdown performance during Sunday's 31-13 win against the Atlanta Falcons. It was his third career game rushing for over 100 yards.
Wilson was late to join his teammates on the football field this season. He suffered a knee injury during the offseason, and spent the first eight weeks of the season on the physically-unable-to-perform list. With the 49ers' leading rusher, rookie Elijah Mitchell, temporarily sidelined with his own knee injury, Wilson has been helping to carry the load.
Wilson joined KNBR on Tuesday morning and shared what inspires him to push through adversity, like his injury. The running back revealed that he is no stranger to life's challenges.
"I've been here with trials and tribulations at the age of 17," Wilson told Adam Copeland and Marcus Thompson, "literally almost losing my life, so I can never forget it."
Wilson didn't provide more details into those life-changing circumstances. However, being a father to a three-year-old son has given him a new perspective and a desire to set a good example.
"He gives me more life than anything in this world," Wilson said. "If it wasn't for having him here, I don't know where I would be, especially going through that process of me having the injury I had before the season.
"He was actually out here when [the injury] happened [in May], so the joy and the drive that he gave me, letting him know that, 'I won't let you down. Daddy will not let you down. And daddy will show you the way you're supposed to live life.' And show him that I'm a fighter and I'll never give up. That's a trait that I definitely want him to have."
In 2018, San Francisco signed Wilson as an undrafted free agent out of North Texas. The fourth-year running back has racked up 249 rushing yards and a touchdown on 65 carries through six game appearances and three starts this season.
You can listen to the entire conversation with Wilson below.
