We may yet get to see Russell Wilson vs. Aaron Rodgers this season.
The Seahawks quarterback appeared to announce his return to the field, tweeting “It’s Time” on Monday with a hype video featuring shots of Lambeau Field. Dr. Steve Shin, who performed surgery on Wilson’s finger last month, later released a statement saying he’s been cleared to return.
“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 he had pre-injury,” Shin said in the statement. “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 injured a finger on his throwing hand in a Week 5 loss against the Rams. At the time of the injury, his 9.6 yards per attempt lead the league, and he had thrown for 1,196 yards, 10 touchdowns and just one interception prior to getting hurt. Without him, the Seahawks have gone 1-2, with their bye last week.
Now, all eyes will turn towards Rodgers ahead of Sunday’s Seahawks-Packers matchup – which should be a dramatic one.
The Green Bay quarterback was out last week after testing positive for COVID-19. He then made himself the center of controversy by appearing on “The Pat McAfee Show”, blaming the “woke mob” and “cancel culture” for the backlash against him after appearing to lie about his vaccination status by telling reporters he was “immunized” in August. Rodgers took homeopathic remedies on the medical advice of podcast host Joe Rogan, among other luminaries.
Rodgers is set to return against the Seahawks, and Wilson would give that game some additional juice. A 3-5 Seahawks with Geno Smith under center against the Packers with Jordan Love at quarterback would have been a tough sell.
It’s still not a guarantee Rodgers will be able to play. The earliest he could be cleared is Saturday, if he’s asymptomatic and tests negative. He won’t be able to practice before then, but because he is Aaron Rodgers, the Packers will opt to start him anyway, coach Matt LaFleur told reporters.
Love couldn’t get the offense going in a 13-7 Green Bay loss to the Chiefs on Sunday. In his first ever start, the Utah State product was 19 of 34 for 190 yards and a touchdown, with one interception. The loss dropped the Packers to 7-2.