We all witnessed the Russell Wilson injury that occurred against the LA Rams on Thursday night. Wilson’s heralded 149 consecutive game streak will come to an end next week when the Seattle Seahawks head to Pittsburgh to face the Steelers.
The quarterback was injured when Aaron Donald broke through the offensive line and tried to block a pass. The video can be seen here:
Russell Wilson’s fingers 😳
(via @NFLBrasil)pic.twitter.com/emdFM6Bkt6
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) October 8, 2021
Russell Wilson has surgery
On October 8th, Wilson had surgery on his middle digit that was performed by Dr. Steven Shin. The procedure stabilized his finger with a set of screws.
The NFL Network reported that the surgery was “more complicated than expected.” Hopefully this does not complicate anything further down the road.
Dr. Shin also performed a finger surgery on Drew Brees when he suffered an injury to his throwing hand on a very similar play. Ironically enough, it occurred after a collision with Aaron Donald.
Brees would miss five games due to the injury.
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What exactly was the injury?
It is believed that Russell Wilson’s right middle finger injury was a Mallet injury. Here is the official statement by the Seahawks, together with Dr. Shin:
Statement regarding @Seahawks QB @DangeRussWilson: pic.twitter.com/kR9X37fzJ6
— Seahawks PR (@seahawksPR) October 9, 2021
After the Russell Wilson injury… will he ever be the same?
When Drew Brees returned after his five game absence in 2019, he threw for 373 yards and 3 touchdowns. To expand, he threw for 25 scores over his final games of the season. Clearly, Dr. Shin did a great job.
Russell Wilson’s injury is a little bit different.
According to board-certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon Dr. Robert Davis, PhD, MD, Drew Brees’ ailment was a fracture of a bone in the thumb, which is preferable to Wilson’s injury which involved tendons, ligament and bone.
How will this impact Wilson’s return? Dr. Davis tells The Touchback that more than likely he will experience a high probability of permanent stiffness in his middle digit, decreased range of motion and weakness. He is also at high-risk for reinjury because the tendon repair is so delicate.
Given the quarterback’s mindset and approach to the game, the injury is unlikely to impact his performance although maybe the Seahawks look to limit his exposure when gets back on the field. Even if Wilson does have some limitations, he usually finds a way to overcome these.
Lion Heart. pic.twitter.com/rgKNk7Qit5
— Russell Wilson (@DangeRussWilson) October 9, 2021
Should you keep Wilson on your fantasy football roster?
Wilson is expected to miss 4-6 weeks as he recovers from surgery. This puts him on track to return well before the fantasy football playoffs.
Entering week five, the Seahawk passer was QB10 on the year which is good but not elite. Many managers, especially those playing in leagues with no IR slot or a guy like George Kittle already sitting in it, are now forced to make a tough decision.
Given his performance and that of the Seattle offense in 2021, he is not a must hold. While they aren’t fantasy football names people love, Taylor Heinicke, Derek Carr and Daniel Jones are all putting up weekly numbers similar to Wilson this season.
Burning a roster spot on a player who has been a back-end QB1 is less than optimal, especially with bye weeks kicking in.
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Is Geno Smith worth rostering in fantasy football?
HAHAHAHA!
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHA!!!!!!
No, do not roster him unless you are in the direst of circumstance. He is Geno Smith, a quarterback who hasn’t started an NFL game since 2017. That game was memorable because he ended Eli Manning’s consecutive games started streak. Smith was so tepid that the now Monday Night Football co-host was back on the job a week later.
“But he didn’t look that bad filling in for Wilson. He has more experience now and he has great weapons.”
Stop. Don’t do it. He WILL burn you.
