Boost for Seahawks as Wilson cleared for return from injury
Russell Wilson suffered a severed finger injury on October 7, but has made remarkable progress, according to a renowned surgeon.
The Seattle Seahawks will be able to call on Russell Wilson against the Green Bay Packers after the quarterback recovered from a serious finger injury.
Wilson, an eight-time Pro Bowler and one-time Super Bowl champion, injured the middle finger on his right hand in an October 7 loss to the Los Angeles Rams.
His injury ended a 10-year run of starts, the sixth-longest such streak of any quarterback in NFL history, and the longest of any QB currently active within the league.
The 32-year-old underwent surgery for the problem, which renowned specialist Dr Steve Shin has described as the most severe injury to the throwing hand of an NFL quarterback he had ever seen.
However, Wilson has now been cleared for a return, with his first game back set to be the Week 10 clash with the Packers, who are themselves expected to welcome back Aaron Rodgers after his covid-19 enforced lay off.
In a statement posted to the Seahawks' official website, Dr Shin explained Wilson's remarkable recovery.
"On October 7, 2021, Russell Wilson sustained severe injuries to the middle finger of his right (throwing) hand during a game," the statement read.
"He had immediate surgery the following day in the form of a repair of a fracture-dislocation of his proximal interphalangeal joint and an extensor tendon rupture (mallet finger).
"Although this was uncharted territory (I have never in my career seen such a severe injury to the throwing hand of an NFL quarterback), I have also never encountered a player so committed to his postoperative therapy and with so much conviction to return to the same, if not better, level of performance as he had pre-injury.
"I am absolutely amazed at his progress, so much so that I can now confidently clear him for full return to play without reservation."
As he was placed on Seattle's injured reserve list, Wilson had to miss a minimum of three games.
Without him, the Seahawks beat the Jacksonville Jaguars, but lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers and the New Orleans Saints. Seattle stand at a disappointing 3-5 after eight games in 2021.
Shortly before Seattle's confirmation, Wilson had tweeted "it's time", along with a video of him working his way back to fitness.