Daniel Fells, the New York Giants' tight end, may need to have his foot amputated after battling an antibiotic-resistant MRSA staph infection for more than a week.
According to NFL.com, the infection has already led to five surgeries, and yet another hospital Intensive Care Unit visit for Fells on Friday. He was moved to a private room over the weekend.
"He was placed on Injured Reserve this week, and it remains to be seen if he'll ever play again," said the NFL.com report. "With doctors hoping to avoid amputating his foot, the more urgent fear is that the MRSA has gotten into the bone and that it could travel into his blood. That could have the gravest of consequences."
On Sunday, Fells
took to Twitter and Instagram to wish his teammates a good game, writing, "My heart is with my brothers tonight. Get that W G-men. I love every one of you #thiswillnotdefeatme."
"It's a very serious thing, has been that way in this league for quite a few years," coach Tom Coughlin said of MSRA,
CBS News reported. "Everyone has been very aware of it . . . With Daniel, it was a different story, there was no surface injury that anybody knows of. It was an acute joint (ankle) problem along with a temperature."
Giants players have been working with experts to implement precautionary measures, and are now advised to wash their hands frequently, take showers before entering hot tubs, and wear protective footwear in the showers.
"It's like a very extreme case of the flu," said cornerback Prince Amukamara, who contracted MRSA in his wrist during his first year at Nebraska. "My body felt like paralyzed. I didn't want to get up and shower. I always felt cold."
His wrist was eventually drilled and cleaned out, and he felt better in a week.
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