Close to 100% after beating timetable for return from injury

RENTON, Wash. — As Russell Wilson was sidelined by the most significant injury of his career, the toughest game for the Seattle Seahawks quarterback to watch was the first one he missed. Wilson wanted to break Brett Favre’s NFL record of 297 consecutive starts, but his own streak ended at 149 a week after he hurt the middle finger on his throwing hand on Oct. 7.

A consolation prize for Wilson: easily beating the projected timetable for his return.

Wilson was initially told he’d most likely be out 6 to 8 weeks.

“I wasn’t going to take 6 to 8,” he said Thursday in his first comments to reporters since the injury. “That wasn’t in my mind.”

Wilson’s goal was to cut that time in half, which he did by returning to practice Monday — exactly one month after his surgery. He’s on track to play Sunday against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field, where the Seahawks (3-5) will try to win for the first time since 1999.

“I’ve been blessed to be able to play all the games I’ve been able to play and all the things I’ve been able to do so far in this league,” Wilson said. “I feel like it’s a new beginning, it’s a new start and I feel like it’s time to get going again all over again.”

Coach Pete Carroll said Wednesday that Wilson isn’t limited in his return to practice, another sign that he’s likely to play Sunday. Wilson said he noticed his finger during his first practice back on Monday and had to “get through” it, but that it now feels good enough to make all the throws, even if it’s not quite back to normal.

“I feel great,” he said. “I feel really close. I’m not 100% yet, but I’m pretty dang close. I would say 90th percentile if not higher. I feel great. I’ve got great conviction about what I’m doing, how I’m doing it. My mindset is better than ever. I’m ready to roll and ready to go.”

Wilson was hurt when he banged his hand against Aaron Donald on a follow-through in the third quarter of Seattle’s loss to the Los Angeles Rams in Week 5. He suffered…