Seahawks' Russell Wilson reportedly could return from injury in four weeks

The Seattle Seahawks know quarterback Russell Wilson is going to miss multiple weeks after undergoing surgery on his middle finger. But the franchise might not be without its star for as long as previously worried.

When news broke of Wilson’s surgery to repair a ruptured tendon in the middle finger of his throwing hand, many expected he would miss at least six weeks. It led to speculation about potential quarterback options for Seattle to explore, with the team in desperate need of wins after a 2-3 start to the season.

But the franchise might not be as in a dire situation as previously thought. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Sunday that doctors now believe there’s a realistic chance Wilson could return after four weeks.

The absence would still force the Pro Bowl quarterback to miss three games. Seattle’s upcoming schedule includes matchups against the Pittsburgh Steelers (Week 6), New Orleans Saints (Week 7) and Jacksonville Jaguars (Week 8).

• Russell Wilson stats (2021): 1,196 passing yards, 10 passing touchdowns, 125.3 passer rating, 9.6 YPA

Realistically, Seattle will be the underdogs in two of those matchups and there’s a distinct possibility that the franchise enters the Week 9 bye with a 3-5 record. In the toughest division in the NFL, that could mean being three-plus games back of the leader in the NFC West.

But after facing a reality where Wilson might not return until the middle of November, there is at least renewed optimism in Seattle. Whenever Wilson returns, the focus will shift to whether or not he can lead his team back into the playoff hunt and if it is his last year with the Seahawks.