Russell Wilson limited in Seahawks practice 6 days post surgery, Chris Carson still out
Russell Wilson can’t use his surgically repaired throwing hand.
So why not throw with the other one?
That’s what the Seahawks’ relentless franchise quarterback did during the brief period of practice Thursday that was open for the media. For the second consecutive day Wilson was in full practice uniform and helmet. He again held a ball in his left hand and arm while going through warm-up drills.
But Thursday, he also threw a few passes with his off, left hand during the loosening work at the start of practice. It was six days after his surgery in Los Angeles to repair a torn tendon and dislocation in the middle finger of his right hand.
The Seahawks listed the self-proclaimed “Mr. Unlimited” as limited — on their official practice participation report, anyway. The estimates from his surgery are it will likely keep him out four to six weeks.
Asked after practice if he is putting plays in for Wilson to throw left-handed, offensive coordinator and play caller Shane Waldron smiled.
“He would be the first ambidextrous guy to run the keeper game,” Waldron said.
“Wouldn’t be surprised if he can throw a pretty good spiral at the end of this thing with his left hand.”
Waldron was joking. Presumably.
In 2016 Wilson sprained the medial collateral ligament in his knee getting tackled in a September game against San Francisco. That was two weeks after Miami’s Ndamukong Suh sprained Wilson’s ankle landing on it in the ‘16 opener. Doctors told Wilson he should miss four weeks because of the knee.
Immediately after that 49ers game, Wilson flew his personal physical trainer up from Los Angeles. All that next week he had the PT move into his home to awaken him hourly each night, to flex the knee and keep it from swelling more while sleeping.
Wilson didn’t miss a practice, let alone the next game. Or any of the next five years of games after that.
That’s not going to happen Sunday night when the Seahawks (2-3) play the Steelers (2-3) in Pittsburgh.
Veteran Geno Smith took the first-team reps in practice for the second consecutive day, as he did in the fourth quarter of Seattle’s home loss to the Rams seven days ago.
Smith will start for the first time in four years Sunday. Wilson’s streak of 165 consecutive games started to begin his career will end in Pittsburgh.
“Russ has been awesome,” Smith said. “And what he’s doing is the same thing he’s always done, and I’ve done the same things I’ve always done. We prepare as if we are starters and going to play and then we support one another.
“That is something that has been tremendous just with this group and our support. We all come together so he has been phenomenal.”
Waldron said he will rely on Wilson in a new way during the Steelers game.
“Yeah, just that constant communication, both with him and with Geno,” the play caller said.
“He’s a great help. He’s totally locked into it. It will be just fitting that I know he will want to have some input there on what he sees.
“He’s had so many great experiences, sees the field so well, he’s just another coach on the sideline now. His role this week isn’t to go to play in the game. His role is to help us in any that he can.”
Carson still sidelined
A running game to lighten Smith’s load in Pittsburgh would sure help Seattle win.
But lead running back Chris Carson missed practice for the third consecutive time this week. Unlike Wednesday, he was nowhere in sight at the start of Thursday’s practice.
Carson did not play last week against the Rams. Coach Pete Carroll said the 27-year-old Seattle re-signed this offseason to a two-year contract worth up to $14,625,000 has a “long-term condition” with his neck.
Carroll had said Wednesday the team’s plan was for Carson to practice Thursday.
Carson has yet to play a full season injury free in his five NFL seasons, and going back to junior college. He is guaranteed $5.5 million this year. He stands to lose up to $1.4 million in additional incentive bonuses as he misses games.
Alex Collins remains on track to start again at running back in Pittsburgh Sunday. Collins had 15 carries for 47 yards last week against the Rams. He had just six carries for 14 yards in the second half.
Waldron said his task, should Collins be the lead rusher again, is to be more consistent in using him throughout a game.
“There’s times we can do a better job (using Collins) all four quarters in the game,” Waldron said.
Metcalf rests
DK Metcalf missed practice with a foot issue Carroll said has been bothering the wide receiver for a while.
He’s taken time off from practices in recent weeks and still played in games, though usually at this point in recent weeks he has been at least a limited participant in drills.
Linebacker Bobby Wagner (bruised knee) and left guard Damien Lewis (illness) returned to practice on a limited basis, after missing Wednesday.
This story was originally published October 14, 2021 at 4:40 PM.
