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Seahawks QB Russell Wilson cleared to return after finger surgery for Week 10 vs. Packers

cassandra negley
Women's basketball reporter
·3 min read
8

Russell Wilson has been cleared to return for the Seattle Seahawks after undergoing finger surgery last month.

The doctor who performed the surgery, Dr. Steve Shin, cleared Wilson on Monday ahead of the Week 10 game against the Green Bay Packers, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported.

The Seahawks released a statement confirming that their quarterback had been cleared by Shin. Shin said he had never "seen such a severe injury" to an NFL quarterback's throwing hand and credited Wilson's rehab work.

Shin's statement:

"On October 7, 2021, Russell Wilson sustained severe injuries to the middle finger of his right (throwing) hand during a game. 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 unchartered 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 committee 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."

Wilson shared a video compilation showing a visit with a doctor and undergoing an X-Ray. It included footage of Wilson throwing and a clip of Lambeau Field in Green Bay with the theme song to "Succession."

The quarterback titled it, simply, "It's time."

Wilson hasn't played for the Seahawks (3-5) since Oct. 7. The team is coming off a bye week.

Wilson returns after finger surgery

Wilson, who turns 33 this month, dislocated his middle finger in Week 5 when his throwing hand collided with Los Angeles Rams star Aaron Darnold. Wilson briefly returned to the game, but was later replaced by backup Geno Smith.

The day after the Thursday night loss it was reported Wilson would need surgery to stabilize the finger with screws. The procedure was more complicated than originally expected for the ruptured finger tendon. He underwent surgery that night with an initial reported timeline of six weeks.

He had the pin removed last week and one day later was throwing again. Wilson shared a video of him throwing late on Tuesday, even though head coach Pete Carroll had said the day prior it might be a little while before he could.

When he takes the field it will be five weeks and two days after having surgery.

Seahawks vs. Packers in Week 10

Russell Wilson
Russell Wilson will return for Week 10. (Abbie Parr/Getty Images)

The return of Wilson is one part of the quarterback matchup most anticipated when they saw the game on calendars.

Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers might have to miss the game after he tested positive for COVID-19 last week and entered protocols as an unvaccinated player. The earliest he could return is Saturday, one day before hosting the Seahawks.

Rodgers missed the Week 9 game and the Packers, with Jordan Love taking his first career start, lost only their second game of the season. The offense managed only one touchdown.