RENTON, Wash. — Concern over Russell Wilson’s availability for Sunday’s Seattle Seahawks game against the Los Angeles Rams appears to be lessening by the day.
Wilson was a full participant in practice on Wednesday in Seattle’s first practice since Sunday’s 12-10 season-opening victory over the Miami Dolphins. Wilson suffered a sprained ankle early in the third quarter when Dolphins defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh stepped on the back of Wilson’s right heel.
Wilson finished the game and led Seattle on a game-winning touchdown drive capped by a 2-yard touchdown pass to Doug Baldwin with 31 seconds remaining.
“Right now we’re expecting him to be full-go,” offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell said. “I don’t think he has any different thoughts than that. He’s amazing in his preparation. He’s probably not even sleeping with all the rehab that he’s doing. I expect him to be ready to go.”
It was the first time in Wilson’s five seasons as quarterback that he’s been listed on the team’s injury report. He’s never missed a meaningful snap in 75 career games – postseason included – due to an injury. Wilson has no intention to start missing snaps now.
“His attitude is as charged up as you can imagine,” head coach Pete Carroll said. “As always, he’s excited to prove that he can get back and all that. He’s half crazy about proving it. So he’s good and his attitude is great.”
With his ankle limiting his ability to move in the pocket and scramble as usual, Wilson was still needed to drive 75 yards in just over four minutes to lead Seattle to victory. The Seahawks had to convert two fourth downs on the drive to stay alive. The second conversion for 22 yards to Baldwin moved Seattle into Miami territory. He hit Jimmy Graham for 11 yards, Tyler Lockett for five move and Baldwin for nine yards to move to the 2-yard line.
After Christine Michael was stopped for no gain on first-and-goal, Seattle sent in another run play on second down. However, Wilson checked the play at the line with a subtle gesture toward Baldwin and receiver Jermaine Kearse. While the rest of the offense was still expecting a run, Wilson took the snap and lofted a perfect pass toward Baldwin in the back corner of the end zone for the winning touchdown.
“I think really great performers find a way,” Carroll said. “You don’t have to be 100 percent all the time to operate at a really high level. That’s part of what’s going on.”
–Head coach Pete Carroll said Thomas Rawls would start at running back this week against the Los Angeles Rams.
Christine Michael started last week’s season opener against the Miami Dolphins as Rawls had played just two snaps during the entire preseason while recovering from surgery to repair a broken ankle and ligament damage last December.
While Michael led the team with 66 yards on 15 carries, Rawls will resume his starting role beginning this week.
“I’m excited to be out there,” Rawls said. “Evidently if he’s made me the starter, evidently I’m going to have a huge load this week so I’m looking forward to it. I’m excited.”
Rawls ran for just 32 yards on 12 carries for Seattle against the Dolphins. Rawls is an extremely hyper player and acknowledged he was perhaps a little too amped up for his first extended workload since his season-ending injury against the Baltimore Ravens.
“I get very excited,” he said. “Even if it’s just a 2-yard run, I’m excited to be out there and giving my energy to my team. It did feel good to be back out there and get that contact.”
He said he hopes to be a little bit calmer in his second game against the Rams on Sunday. The positive from his first game was that he didn’t feel limited at all due to his ankle.
“I just tried to get out of my mind and out of my body and just play loose and play free,” Rawls said. “That’s exactly what I did. I wasn’t thinking for a second about my ankle or anything. I was just out there playing and doing my job.”
Rawls led the league in yards per carry as a rookie last season, averaging 5.3 yards per attempt. He ran for 830 yards and four touchdowns in seven starts in place of an injured Marshawn Lynch.