Encouraging news for the Seattle Seahawks: QB Russell Wilson is one step closer to returning to the football field after having the pin removed from his surgically repaired right middle finger.

Wilson posted the removed picture of the pin on Twitter with the message “No more pin. Time to Win” (ew). An hour before, Pete Carroll told reporters he had no idea when the pin was being removed.

It's unclear if Wilson will be able to play in the team's next game, Week 10 vs. the Green Bay Packers on Nov. 14. The Seahawks are on bye this week.

Unsurprisingly, Wilson is “pushing to play” vs. Green Bay, Ian Rapoport said on NFL Network on Tuesday morning. “This is a good sign that at least he has a chance to reach his Week 10 against the Packers target.”

 

According to Carroll, the pin removal was the final step in Wilson's recovery and he can begin throwing a couple of days after.

“It's how he works after that's out and he's ready to start developing,” the Seattle head coach said. “It's more that. There's a pretty clear-cut timeframe they think for the couple days after that is removed and then it's just how he can progress. Of course, the docs are going to take a look at it and see what it looks like now once he gets it out. That will be the first time he'll be able to bend his finger, so we've got to see how that works out.”

Wilson had surgery on Oct. 8, one day after injuring his hand in Seattle's loss to the Los Angeles Rams in Week 5.

The Seahawks (3-5) have gone 1-2 with Geno Smith starting at quarterback in Wilson's absence.