Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson's 149-game starting streak is all but over after he had surgery on Friday to repair an injured finger.
The 32-year-old eight-time Pro Bowler was hurt in Thursday night's loss to the Rams in Seattle, when his right middle finger was conspicuously bent out of shape after Wilson slammed it into the arm of defensive lineman Aaron Donald on a passing attempt.
The surgery and recovery time were expected to sideline Wilson from 4-8 weeks, according to multiple reports. The procedure addressed both a bone fracture and damaged tendon, the Seahawks said.
The 10-year veteran will miss his first career game in Week 6 against the Steelers in Pittsburgh, but on Friday night he took to social media to assure his fans that he's going to be OK.
The setback is one of the first known injuries for the durable signal caller since he was hobbled by nagging ankle and knee ailments in 2016, though neither of those managed to keep him off the field.
In his absence, the Seahawks will turn to veteran backup Geno Smith, who played well overall in relief of Wilson against the Rams, leading two scoring drives before a game-sealing interception on the first play of his third series, which was aided at least in part by wide receiver Tyler Lockett apparently losing his footing while running his route.
Smith, 30, has settled in as a backup after beginning his professional career as a starter with the Jets. He's spent time with the Giants, Chargers, and for the past three seasons as Wilson's backup with the Seahawks.
Now, Smith finds himself stepping into a difficult situation, with the Seahawks slipping to 2-3 in the tough NFC West. His showing on Thursday night indicated he may have matured and developed as a signal-caller since his early-career inconsistencies. The Seahawks sure hope so.
LISTEN on the Audacy App
Sign Up and Follow Audacy Sports
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram