Collins not worried injury could co$t him

Safety Landon Collins is playing on the final year of his rookie contract, a four-year, $6.1 million deal for being a second-round pick, the 33rd player taken in the 2015 draft. He will be looking for — and should receive — a big payday, but he has not hesitated in going full-tilt in training camp and during the season, despite the risk of injury.

Collins is close with another top safety, Earl Thomas, who saw his season end Sunday with a fractured leg, making an already acrimonious situation worse. Thomas gave his Seahawks sideline the middle finger as he was carted off the field, as he had previously gone public as to his anger over not getting a new contract. Thomas wanted to force a trade and now he is damaged goods.

“It’s always in the back of your head,’’ Collins said Wednesday. “You don’t want to get hurt, definitely in contract season. You want to be secure. I play football and I love this game, and I’m going to play hard.’’

Chad Wheeler is a tall, longhaired presence in the Giants’ locker room. An extremely low-key presence.

“The thing I appreciate about him is, he walks around pretty quiet sort of Monday through Saturday,’’ coach Pat Shurmur said, “but on game day, you can see the emotions and you can see him playing hard and competing, and he works hard in practice.’’

Shurmur said he thought Wheeler, making his second start of the season last week against the Saints, played better in that game than he did in his first start replacing Ereck Flowers in Houston.

WR Sterling Shepard did not practice after having a cyst removed from his lower back. “That is just going to take him a day or so to get back from, otherwise he’ll be fine,’’ Shurmur said. … LB Connor Barwin (knee), DT Damon Harrison (knee) and TE Evan Engram ( knee) also did not practice. Barwin and Harrison are expected to play vs. the Panthers. … WR Cody Latimer (knee), LB Olivier Vernon (ankle), CB Eli Apple (groin) CB Antonio Hamilton (groin) were limited.