Clayton: Seahawks in for huge week with Russell Wilson back, OBJ a possibility
Nov 8, 2021, 2:35 PM | Updated: 2:35 pm
Browns WR Odell Beckham Jr. runs a drill during the first day of Cleveland Browns Training Camp. (Jason Miller/Getty Images)
(Jason Miller/Getty Images)
Though things were quiet for the Seahawks during their bye week, the news cycle has picked up immensely for the beginning of Week 10.
Seahawks QB Russell Wilson cleared to return from injury
The biggest news involved Russell Wilson. Dr. Steven Shin, who performed the surgery on the quarterback’s right middle finger, notified everyone Monday that Wilson has been cleared to practice and play. He had the pin removed from the finger last week. On Monday, the Seahawks designated Wilson, rookie receiver Dee Eskridge and cornerback Nigel Warrior as possible returns from the injured reserve list. And it’s not out of the question that running back Chris Carson could be the next.
Shin said he has never seen a player with such a severe injury to a throwing hand. He then added he has never seen a player so dedicated to return.
“I am absolutely amazed at his progress, so much that I can confidently clear him for a full return to play without reservation,’’ Shin said in a statement.
Now it’s a matter of watching what happens in practice to see if he can be the starter for Sunday’s game in Green Bay.
Another big story to watch is what happens with wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr., who has been waived by the Cleveland Browns. The Browns and Beckham worked out contract issues so that he could hit the waiver wire on Monday. He will be on the waiver wire list until 1 p.m. Tuesday.
You have to think the Seahawks would be interested. Even though it might be a little scary that he could come to Seattle and cause problems like Percy Harvin did years ago, you are only talking nine games. Plus, Beckham said the Seahawks are the team that he prefers, according to ProFootballTalk’s Mike Florio.
It’s hard to imagine Beckham will be satisfied as a No. 3 wide receiver option, but he offers the Seahawks a Pro Bowl-caliber receiver and a great deep threat. Basically, the Seahawks could end up with the best three-receiver offense in football.
Salary cap-wise, the Seahawks have plenty of room to add him to the roster. They have a little less than $13 million of cap room. Though not official, he is expected to cost a team a little over $7 million. Knowing that the Seahawks have to start working on a DK Metcalf contract extension down the road, you figure that if the Seahawks add Beckham, they wouldn’t try to re-sign him after the season. He had the final two years of his contract removed.
Still, Beckham could command more than $10 million in free agency next season, and that could give the Seahawks a third- or fourth-round compensatory pick in 2023.
Should be interesting over the next 24 hours.
