Seattle Seahawks clear Russell Wilson to return to play after finger injury

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson has been cleared to return to the field after injuring his throwing hand in Week 5, the team announced Monday.

Wilson injured the middle finger of his right hand — the hand he throws the ball with — during the team’s Oct. 7 loss against the division rival Los Angeles Rams. He had surgery to repair the finger the following day.

Dr. Steve Shin, the surgeon who operated on Wilson’s finger, cleared the eight-time Pro Bowler in a statement released by the team on Twitter.

“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,” he wrote. “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 is expected to travel to Green Bay this week to play against the Packers on Sunday.

His return couldn’t have come at a better time. With a 3-5 record, the team is currently in third place in the NFC West — the only reason they’re not in last is because Wilson was able to eke out a win over the San Francisco 49ers in week four — and needs to turn things around if they hope to usurp the Arizona Cardinals (8-1) or the Rams (7-2) for a playoff spot.

Backup-quarterback Geno Smith was under center for the three games Wilson was forced to miss.

Smith played alright, but Wilson’s absence was felt in close losses to the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 6 and the New Orleans Saints in Week 7. On his radio show, even Head Coach Pete Carroll said those two teams were “fortunate” to have played against the Seahawks without Wilson.  

Smith did manage to lead the team to victory over the hapless Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 8. The team had its bye this past weekend.

Since winning the starting job over former Packers quarterback Matt Flynn in 2012, Wilson had never missed a game before this year.