Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson played on a Grade 2 or 3 high-ankle sprain last week, sources said, and lobbied coaches and trainers hard to talk his way into facing the Rams. If the Seahawks had any established backup (if Tarvaris Jackson was still on the roster, for instance), Wilson would almost certainly have sat it out, but the situation is much improved this week.
Wilson is feeling much better after around-the-clock treatment and was able to return to his normal exercise activities, including shooting hoops, which is a sure sign of his progress. He was far less limited in practice, sources said, and while not 100 percent, he feels as if he can operate the full array of the offense this week, including designed runs and read-option looks.
Coaches and teammates have talked privately about how shocked they were Wilson willed himself to play last week, nearly leading another last-minute comeback. While his offensive line remains a significant concern, Wilson himself will be better able to elude tacklers than a week ago, barring an in-game setback.
The Seahawks are also likely to make more of a concerted effort to feature their big tight ends, including Jimmy Graham, over the middle of the field, with the offense relying too much on plays near the sidelines. Wilson should be able to better step and up and fire those throws into the pocket with his ankle feeling much better than a week ago.
