SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - OCTOBER 31: Russell Wilson #3 of the Seattle Seahawks reacts after the touchdown scored by DK Metcalf #14 (not pictured) during the second quarter against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Lumen Field on October 31, 2021 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)Photo: Getty Images
RENTON -- As the Seattle Seahawks head out for their week break in the schedule, the team got some very promising news about their starting quarterback.
Wilson tweeted Monday an image (located below) of the pin that had been inserted into his surgically repaired right middle finger having been removed.
"No more pin. Time to win," Wilson wrote.
Wilson was injured three weeks ago in a loss to the Los Angeles Rams when Wilson's hand impacted Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald. The collision caused "mallet finger" in Wilson's middle finger on his throwing hand and he had surgery
Head coach Pete Carroll said he didn't have any updates on Wilson's status or when the pin was coming out of Wilson's finger prior to Wilson's tweet on Monday afternoon. However, he did say that Wilson is doing everything he can to get back on the field. Whether that will be when the team returns from the bye week is still uncertain.
"We really were just kind of hoping for the best in terms of his return and that everything's handled really well as we get him in the mode where he starts to use his hand and his finger with the football and all that. So we just got to do a good job and see what happens," Carroll said.
"I know that they said that there’s a couple of days just healing from taking it out. Russ has been doing everything he can do as far as making sure his hand strength is there and all of that," Carroll said.
Carroll said that Wilson's finger doesn't need to be fully back to 100 percent or back to where it was before the injury for him to play and be successful. However, he added that they aren't going to rush anything either.
“Your hand adapts and he doesn’t need all of what it was for him to be effective,” Carroll said. “I know that because I’ve got a funky hand myself, my throwing hand. He’ll be able to adapt. We just need to see if it’s safe for him to do that long-term basis, if it’s the right thing to do. We’ll just figure it out.’’
The Seahawks have two enormous games on their schedule returning from the bye at Green Bay and home against Arizona. Those two teams are at the top of the NFC and will provide serious challenges for the Seahawks as they look to fight back into the playoff picture. Having Wilson back at the helm would go a long way to help them in that cause.
In addition to Wilson, Carroll said that running back Chris Carson is intent on trying to get back on the field next week as well. Carson has been dealing with a neck issue that has been uncomfortable for him over the last few weeks. Carroll said last week that Carson has decent movement and mobility but that it's continued to cause discomfort.
“He wants to go for it next week,” Carroll said. “And so he’s got to get back on Monday and check in with the docs and see where he is and show them that he’s OK. And then if he does, then he’ll start practicing. And so that’s when we’ll find out where he stands once we get to practice. He’s real determined to get that done, so I’m keeping my fingers crossed for him that he can get a chance to get back on the field and start working with us. That’s about as optimistic as we can be until we know more.”
Carroll's update from Friday on Carson's status seemed far less optimistic about his chances of returning soon. However, Carroll said the issue Carson is dealing with isn't like the ones that ultimately ended the playing careers of safety Kam Chancellor and defensive end Cliff Avril.
“It’s a different condition that he’s dealing with,” Carroll said. “But when it’s a spinal issue there is great concerns that we need to uphold and all of that and do it right and take care of him for the long haul. So that’s what we’re doing.”
Carroll said that cornerback D.J. Reed checked out fine on the MRI after tweaking his groin in Sunday's win over the Jacksonville Jaguars. He also said that running back Alex Collins has been fighting through his own groin issue the last few weeks and just barely getting through the games OK. The week off should help him get back to full speed coming out of the bye as well.
Photo Credit: SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - OCTOBER 31: Russell Wilson #3 of the Seattle Seahawks reacts after the touchdown scored by DK Metcalf #14 (not pictured) during the second quarter against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Lumen Field on October 31, 2021 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)