Infection may cause NY Giants tight end Daniel Fells to lose foot

New York Giants tight end Daniel Fells could have his foot amputated from a staph infection, according to NFL.com.

Fells has had five surgeries to stave off the infection and doctors are fighting to avoid amputating his foot, Ian Rapoport of NFL Media reported Sunday.

Fells has been hospitalized for more than a week as he battles a persistent MRSA infection (methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus) that necessitated being placed in the intensive care unit on Friday, according to the report. He is expected to undergo more operations on his foot, which is at risk for further infection.

According to Rapoport, citing a source with knowledge of Fells' condition, doctors also fear that the MRSA has infected his bone and could travel into his blood.

Giants spokesman Pat Hanlon told ESPN.com that it "is a serious situation that has been taken seriously from the beginning. We're all fighting for Daniel."

Fells, 32, was placed on season-ending injured reserve Monday.

After Fells' diagnosis, the Giants took precautions to prevent further spread of MRSA by scrubbing their locker room, training room and meeting rooms, a source told ESPN.