The Giants have placed special-teams ace/LB Gerris Wilkinson on injured reserve with a dislocated right wrist. The injury occurred in the Giants’ most recent loss to the Chargers on Sunday.

Wilkinson leads the team with 12 special-teams tackles, although he had not played much on defense. His season also ended on injured reserve in 2008 following a knee injury.

The team signed CB D.J. Johnson to take Wilkinson’s roster spot. A rookie free agent, Johnson had been on the Broncos’ practice squad since September.

“We had really liked this young man for quite some time, D.J. Johnson,” head coach Tom Coughlin said. “And with the opportunity, unfortunately with Gerris Wilkinson being injured … we did have a roster spot. So we made the invitation, and fortunately for us the young man decided to come.”