DENVER — Quarterback Russell Wilson’s continued treatment of an injury near his right shoulder included flying to Los Angeles on Friday afternoon for a platelet-rich injection, a source confirmed Saturday to The Denver Post.
Wilson was at the UC Health Training Facility on Friday morning and then flew to Los Angeles to receive the injection on his latissimus dorsi muscle, which is a common treatment for athletes dealing with injuries.
Wilson sustained the injury last Sunday against Las Vegas. He was listed as limited in practice as the Broncos prepared to host Indianapolis on Thursday night, though when the final injury report was published he was not on it. Therefore, his status for Thursday’s game against Indianapolis at home was not in question.
Wilson played the entire game, but said afterward, “I’ve got to look at this and see where I can get better. I was battling, obviously, just the shoulder and all that and just trying to play quickly. We should have won that game.”
He said before the game he expected to play “without limitations.”
Wilson had a poor second half against the Colts, throwing two interceptions in the fourth quarter while the Broncos held a 9-6 lead before they ultimately gave up a field goal at the end of regulation and lost, 12-9, in overtime.
At one point during the game Wilson was removed for evaluation of a potential head injury but was quickly cleared and returned to action without missing a snap.
“They checked me out just to make sure I didn’t get hit in the head too bad or anything like that,” Wilson said. “I was fine, answered all of their questions and everything else. (It was) just a bad play. Tried to make a tackle, tried to hit the guy.”
The Broncos have 11 days between the loss to Indianapolis and a game at Los Angeles on Monday, Oct. 17, giving Wilson extra time to receive treatment and recover.
Through his first five games with the Broncos, Wilson has thrown for 1,254 yards on a 59.3% completion rate with four touchdowns and three interceptions. He also has 73 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown, which came late in the game against the Raiders.
Denver traded for Wilson from Seattle, where he played the first decade of his career. In August he signed a five-year contract extension for up to $245 million.
Wilson has played in 163 of 166 games (all starts) since he was drafted in the third round of the 2012 NFL draft. He had never missed a start until a finger injury that required surgery knocked him out for three games last season. Unless he further injures the shoulder, it is unlikely he’ll miss Denver’s next game against the Los Angeles Chargers on Monday Night Football.
