By Tim Booth
The Associated Press
SEATTLE — Russell Wilson threw for 243 yards and a touchdown before suffering a left knee injury as the Seattle Seahawks rolled to a 37-18 rout of the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday.
Wilson was injured with about 10 minutes to go in the third quarter getting pulled down awkwardly on a sack by San Francisco’s Eli Harold. Harold was called for a horse collar penalty, but the bigger concern was how he fell on Wilson’s left leg.
Wilson stayed down on the field for a few moments before walking off. Wilson missed the first play of his career due to injury, but returned to throw one more pass. The completion led to the third of Steven Hauschka’s three field goals for a 27-3 lead and after that Wilson’s day was done.
Wilson had a brace placed on his left knee, and he never saw the field again, giving the final 1 ½ quarters of the blowout to rookie Trevone Boykin.
Wilson finished 15 of 23 passing, including an 18-yard touchdown pass to tight end Jimmy Graham. Boykin also threw the first TD pass of his career, hitting Doug Baldwin on a 16-yard touchdown early in the fourth quarter.
Baldwin had eight catches for a career-high 164 yards.
It was a big day for Seattle’s offense that slogged through the first two weeks, scoring just 15 points in the first 120 minutes of the season. The Seahawks nearly matched that total in the first 11 minutes of the game thanks to the first two touchdowns of Christine Michael’s career.
Getting the start with Thomas Rawls out because of a shin injury, Michael had TD runs of 41 and 4 yards on Seattle’s first two drives. Michael rushed for 106 yards on 20 carries, the second 100-yard game of his career.
Carlos Hyde two TD runs in the fourth quarter for San Francisco, but the 49ers had just five first downs entering the fourth quarter and missed on their first 10 third-down attempts. Blaine Gabbert’s streak of 12 straight games with a touchdown pass ended as he was 14 of 25 for 119 yards and an interception.
The knee injury for Wilson comes on top of the Seattle quarterback suffering a sprained right ankle against Miami.
Wilson never missed a snap against the Dolphins and played the entire game last week against Los Angeles, although his mobility was limited. Wilson appeared to have better movement on Sunday, but had only one official run for 3 yards.
Seattle may have not wanted a bye in Week 5 but it could end up being critical for the health of its quarterback.
Graham’s impact
Graham seems fully back from the torn patellar tendon suffered last November. The athletic tight end had six catches for 100 yards and a touchdown in the first half on Sunday for Seattle.
Graham’s score was his first TD since Sept. 27, 2015. He later wrestled a 40-yard jump ball away from safety Eric Reid that set up a field goal. Graham also had an 18-yard catch to convert third-and-15 in the first quarter.
It was his second 100-yard receiving game since joining Seattle via trade before last season.
Battered Niners
San Francisco lost two key players in the first half. Tight end Vance McDonald suffered a hip injury in the second quarter and did not return. And starting cornerback Jimmy Ward injured his quadriceps covering a kickoff in the second quarter and also did not return.
Backup TE Garrett Celek was hit the back by Kam Chancellor in the second half.
Celek returned later in the third quarter.
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson, top, is pulled down by San Francisco 49ers’ Eli Harold in the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 25, 2016, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
Seattle Seahawks’ Jimmy Graham (88) leaps in celebration after scoring a touchdown against the San Francisco 49ers in the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 25, 2016, in Seattle. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Blaine Gabbert throws against the Seattle Seahawks in the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 25, 2016, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson (3) is assisted off the field after being brought down against the San Francisco 49ers in the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 25, 2016, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
