Seattle Seahawks QB Russell Wilson is expected to miss 4-8 weeks after finger surgery.
Russell Wilson
Russell Wilson, the quarterback for the Seattle Seahawks, is likely to miss four to eight weeks after having surgery for a torn tendon in his right middle finger,
according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.
Wilson underwent the surgery Friday in Los Angeles after injuring his finger in a defeat to the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday night.
He will begin rehabilitation this weekend.
“It is strongly expected that he will return to play later this season,” the Seahawks stated.
According to ESPN, the decision to undergo surgery was made with Wilson’s long-term health in mind.
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When the Seahawks face the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday night,
he will be out for the first time in his NFL career, breaking a run of 149 straight starts.
In his absence, the Seahawks (2-3) will have to rely on Geno Smith to keep their postseason chances alive,
since they are currently two defeats behind the Rams and Arizona Cardinals in the NFC West.
Coach Pete Carroll told reporters and on his weekly radio program Friday morning that he wouldn’t know how much time Wilson would lose until he visited with a hand specialist,
and that he wouldn’t share the findings of Wilson’s postgame X-rays.
“However, something is going on,” Carroll said. “There’s certainly something going on,
and we need to find out what it is and how we’re going to deal with it.”
Wilson holds the record for the longest current quarterback start streak with 149.
Only Peyton Manning (208) has started more straight games to begin his career among quarterbacks since the 1970 merger, according to Elias Sports Bureau.
Wilson has battled ailments in the past, including a damaged ankle and injured MCL in 2016.
When it became apparent that Wilson couldn’t handle the ball well enough to throw it, Carroll said “everyone was together” Thursday night in making the decision to enter Smith.
Carroll said on Friday that the problem isn’t with pain management.
“No one should doubt his tenacity,” he added. “Nobody should be able to doubt his commitment.
He could have done it if he could have thrown a football and held on to it.
Anyone who claims differently does not understand what they are talking about.
So you can deal with a lot of things with your hands and still throw the football,
and he tried last night but couldn’t get the ball under control. So he would have done it if he could.”
Wilson was hurt in the third quarter after his hand collided with Aaron Donald’s arm while he was throwing a long pass.
Wilson’s tip of his finger was abnormally bent downward throughout the transmission.
The Seahawks’ team doctor and members of their athletic training staff inspected Wilson on the sideline for several minutes, seeing him grasp a football and then bandaging his finger.
Wilson came back for one series, throwing a short pass on a three-and-out before Smith took over for the rest of the game.
With a touchdown throw to DK Metcalf to complete a 98-yard drive on which he went 5-for-5,
Smith gave Seattle hope. On a pass to Tyler Lockett, who went down, he was intercepted,
thereby sealing the Rams’ victory. Smith completed 10-of-17 passes for 132 yards.
Carroll remarked, “I think Geno did a fantastic job last night.” “Geno has been training with us the whole time, ready for his chance if he is called upon.
He’s been perfect in his patience with us and his ability to stick with it, as well as his connection with Russ and the coaches. And when he went out, he did all he could.
He’s an exceptional football player.
He’s got a terrific arm, good judgment, and a thorough understanding of the system.”
The Seahawks’ defense, which was already rated worst in the NFL before Week 5, gave the Rams 476 yards.
Following Seattle’s bye, they face the Pittsburgh Steelers (1-3) on Oct. 17,
the New Orleans Saints (2-2) on Oct. 25, the Jacksonville Jaguars (0-4) on Oct. 31, and the Green Bay Packers (3-1) on Nov. 14.
“I have complete faith in Geno’s ability to accomplish this,” Carroll said.
“I think you saw that last night in a very tough circumstance — hurry-up, all that sort of things, he was extremely excellent at it.” “He has a thorough understanding of the system,
so we’ll be able to remain on track with our preparation, which will benefit everyone.
Geno instills confidence and ease in the men around him,
and I thought that was a fantastic display.”
Smith, 30, is in his third season with the Seahawks.
His only action with the Seahawks before Thursday was mop-up duty.
His most recent start was with the New York Giants in 2017.
Despite receiving little playing time, Carroll believes Smith has the mentality to succeed as a backup quarterback.
“It’s not the makeup that Geno would want to be proud of — that I’m very good at backing up — because everyone wants to be a great starter,
and I’ve always told him that he is and will be when the time comes,” Carroll said.
“Now he’ll have a shot, and I’m happy for him.”Russell Wilson
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Seattle Seahawks QB Russell Wilson expected to miss 4-8 weeks after finger surgery