The Seattle Seahawks were hoping for the best regarding the status of Russell Wilson.
Yet anyone watching Thursday night’s game against the Los Angeles Rams saw Wilson’s injured finger on the broadcast.
It looked bad, and the fact Wilson could not return to the game was another bad sign.
Friday has brought some news fans are not going to like.
Sources: Seahawks are bracing for Russell Wilson to miss at least a month and possibly 6-8 weeks with his ruptured middle-finger tendon that likely requires surgery. Seattle thinking about Wilson’s long-term health. Barring an unexpectedly swift recovery, it’s Geno Smith’s show.
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) October 8, 2021
Wilson went from potentially just having a sprain to being out a minimum of one month.
That means Seahawks fans can start buying their Geno Smith jerseys.
A Brutal Thursday Night
The Seahawks entered Thursday night at 2-2 on the year with a crucial divisional matchup against the Rams.
Now the team is 2-3, without its Pro Bowl quarterback, and in the basement of the toughest division in football.
It was an awful night in Seattle in what is supposed to be an impossible environment for road teams.
But Wilson getting knocked out of the game obviously had a huge impact and while Smith did lead a touchdown drive, a late interception proved the difference between him and the legendary Seahawks starter.
#Seahawks QB Russell Wilson underwent surgery on his injured finger today, source said, a procedure that is expected to keep him out several weeks. Dr. Steven Shin did the procedure, stabilizing his finger with screws.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 8, 2021
The Seahawks were also without top running back Chris Carson as the season starts to unravel before everyone’s eyes.
The Road Ahead
Seattle is on the road next Sunday against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
So even with Smith under center, they will have extra rest against a Steelers team that looks weak in a competitive AFC North.
The defense will have to get to Ben Roethlisberger all game and keep it a low-scoring affair.
A 2-3 record is not the end of the world.
Yes, the NFC West is tough, but it is still too early in the season to panic.
The Arizona Cardinals could certainly come back down to Earth and even the Rams have shown some weaknesses this year.
The ideal scenario would be staying at or just over .500 until Wilson can return.
Let’s say he is out until around November 8, in a best-case scenario.
The Seahawks have three upcoming games, followed by a bye in Week 9.
Week 10 brings with it a road matchup against the Green Bay Packers on November 14.
So as long as the Seahawks aren’t 2-6 by then, the sky is not falling in Seattle.
And that would be hard to imagine considering there is a matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars awaiting on Halloween.
Losing Wilson is awful and fans have a right to be uneasy about Smith taking over the offense.
Seahawks fans are now hoping this extra preparation will do him well and the team won’t have to rush Wilson back just to avoid a lost season.
