The serious injury to Russell Wilson comes at an inopportune time for the Seattle Seahawks. After a bumpy start with two wins and three losses, the team is now losing its anchor of success with the quarterback. The coming weeks will be a test of their mettle.

Munich – October 18, 2021 will be a special date in recent Seattle Seahawks history.

Since they selected Russell Wilson in the 2012 draft, it will be the first regular-season game in which the franchise quarterback will not lead them onto the field as a starter. Previously, the 32-year-old had been on the field in all 149 possible games for the Washington franchise.

Now the “Hawks” have to come to terms with the new situation and fight for the playoffs without their superstar. The problem: The game plan in the coming weeks leaves little room for error – especially the defence has been more than susceptible so far.

Wilson almost irreplaceable

If there was one guarantor of success in recent years with the Seattle Seahawks, it was certainly Russell Wilson. In addition to games, the signal caller missed just two practices during a season since 2012, both times due to attending funerals.

But that’s not the only thing that highlights Wilson’s fighting spirit. Since 2012, Wilson has been tackled 1556 times. According to “ESPN”, no other quarterback has been tackled as many times over that period. That he still proved so consistent underscores the value he has to the franchise.

He’s already had 13 sacks this season, too. The shaky offensive line, which was one reason Wilson toyed with thoughts of leaving in the offseason, has rarely been convincing.

Whoever replaces Wilson in the coming weeks will have to be prepared for a painful workday.

Geno Smith impresses as back-up

When Wilson left the field against the Los Angeles Rams due to his finger injury, Head Coach Pete Carroll relied on back-up quarterback Geno Smith. The veteran is considered one of the better replacements in the league and has enough experience under his belt to handle the pressure.

“I really thought we had a chance,” Smith said after the game, disappointed, “I thought we’d come back and still win the game. Unfortunately, we didn’t. Now we have to pull ourselves together and fight back,” he explained.

Against the Rams, he proved to be a reliable game manager and put up solid numbers. After the game he earned some praise from Coach Carroll and should now be set as the first option for the coming weeks. How lengthy that endeavour will be remains to be seen.

Own injury history causes concern

Because even though Smith didn’t have a bad game against the Rams, it’s going to be tough for him to keep the Seahawks’ offense at Wilson’s level. In his career, the former second-round pick stands at a 12-19 record for a reason.

After his time with the New York Jets, he was a backup quarterback for the New York Giants and Los Angeles Chargers. When he took over the starter’s role with the New York Giants from NFL legend Eli Manning in 2017, he was replaced by him again after just a few games.

In addition, Smith has an injury history of his own. In addition to a torn cruciate ligament, the 30-year-old also suffered several ankle injuries in his career. Because of the stamina it currently takes to be a starter for the Seattle Seahawks, the plan with Smith as the longer-term starter is on shaky ground.

The Seahawks currently have only one other quarterback under contract in Jake Luton. So it’s not considered out of the question for general manager John Schneider to provide further insurance here on the free agent market or via trade.

Playing schedule has it all – defence is shaky

Averaging over 450 yards, the defence is conceding historically poor numbers at the moment. This is also causing discord within the team. Both Carroll and safety Quandre Diggs were harshly critical of their own teammates after the Rams loss.

It is now up to the defence to back up the offence in the coming games without Wilson. While the task against the Pittsburgh Steelers, who also complain about an inconsistent offence, still seems doable, the next game is against several top offensive teams.

If Wilson does indeed return after eight weeks, the Seahawks would have to face the New Orleans Saints, Green Bay Packers, Arizona Cardinals and San Francisco 49ers. It’s hard to imagine the Seahawks being able to keep up offensively here with this lineup, so the defence will have to catch on quickly.

Either way, the Seahawks are in for a tough couple of weeks. Now the rest of the team has to show if they are capable of staying within striking distance until their most important player returns.