Mina Kimes talks about how the Seahawks will do while Russell Wilson is out for four to eight weeks due to a finger injury. (1:02).
RENTON (Wash.) - Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson underwent surgery Friday to fix a ruptured tendon as well as a fracture in his middle finger. According to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, Wilson will miss anywhere from four to eight weeks due to injury.
This puts Seattle's playoff hopes at serious risk and further clouds Wilson's prospects in Seattle.
These are some facts to help you understand the situation.
What makes Seattle so different?
Wilson's availability has been the most consistent aspect in Seahawks football over the past decade.
He has never missed a single game since he joined the NFL in 2012. Not only that, but he is so strong that he has not missed any practice due to injury in his nine-plus season. This includes when he sustained sprains on his right ankle (when it had been stepped on by Ndamukong Suh), and his left knee (when he was bent awkwardly from a 49ers defender) in a span of 14 days in 2016. Wilson missed only two practices in his career, which was to attend funerals. As if nothing had happened, Wilson routinely appears to recover from seemingly devastating hits (such as the blindside shot to Clay Matthews' jaw in the NFC Championship Game).
It's not surprising, therefore, that Wilson will be out of the game. It's not surprising in this sense. According to ESPN Stats & Information, Wilson has been hit 1,556 time during his career. This is the most by any quarterback since 2012. This was likely to happen.
Can Geno Smith help the Seahawks keep their playoff hopes alive?
Geno Smith led the Seahawks' to two scoring drives in Thursday's second half. He will make his first start since December 3, 2017. Steph Chambers/Getty Images
If Wilson returns earlier than the four-to eight-week deadline, it's possible.
Smith's career record as a starter is 12-19, but that was mostly for the mediocre-to–bad New York Jets teams. Smith might be one the league's best backups and he played well Thursday night to give Seattle an opportunity to win. Smith was 5-for-5 on the 98-yard drive. He showed great mobility and he scored a touchdown pass for DK Metcalf. However, the Rams may have been allowing some underthrown passes to keep the score from being quick.
Wilson missing five games would mean Smith starts at the Pittsburgh Steelers (1-3), at the New Orleans Saints (2-2) and at the Green Bay Packers (3-1), following Seattle's bye, and at the Arizona Cardinals (4-0). With how broken down Ben Roethlisberger is, the Steelers game could be winnable. Seattle may even be favored at home against the winless Jaguars.
This is the Seahawks' best and most realistic hope: Win those two games, let the Cardinals and Rams fight, and pray Wilson can return in four weeks.
Smith would be relieved if he had a strong run game, but Chris Carson has a neck injury which kept him from playing against the Rams.
How about their defense failing?
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It's time for the Eagles to shake up their backfield.
Are Raiders now replacing Mack?
Pete Carroll has another problem.
The Seahawks are being beaten at an historic pace for the second consecutive year. In four consecutive games, they've given up at least 450 yards. ESPN Stats & Information research has shown that this streak is the longest in team history, and the longest in NFL history.
Jamal Adams has yet to give them a sack. Their pass rush was supposed to be strong enough for some of the pressure on their cornerbacks. Their pass rush was the key to their defensive turnaround last season. They are just as powerful this year, which gives hope that they will improve.
It doesn't matter if they don't, though.
What impact could this have on Wilson's future in Seattle
This is the most difficult question to answer and it's also the largest.
Wilson and the Seahawks are in a better position since Wilson voiced his frustrations early on in the offseason. This led both sides to entertain the possibility of a split. The situation was not resolved. Wilson put his worries on the back burner and said he would return to them after the season ended.
It was obvious that Wilson would need to feel satisfied at the end. He would have had to feel better about his pass protection, like Shane Waldron's new offense, and the Seahawks have to get past their divisional-round playoff hump.
This equation is a bit more complicated now that Wilson will be out of the game and Seattle may not make it to the playoffs.
Although the Seahawks offense has struggled through five games, Wilson supports Waldron's work and supported him for the job. Seattle's pass block win rate and quarterback contact percentage are roughly the same as last year. Seattle also has a similar number of sacks per dropback. Wilson doesn't like the fact that Aaron Donald, the pass-rusher who hurt him, is also the one who has caused him the most trouble over the years.
