Seahawks' Russell Wilson Confirms He's 'Frustrated with Getting Hit Too Much'

The Seattle Seahawks have been unable to protect Russell Wilson, and it is now causing problems for the quarterback.

"I'm frustrated with getting hit too much," Wilson said Tuesday, per Gregg Bell of the News Tribune.

Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports reported Monday the quarterback has been "increasingly frustrated" with his lack of protection in Seattle after being sacked 394 times in nine NFL seasons. Ian Rapoport of NFL Network noted the Seahawks had been getting calls about potential trades.

Wilson added that he loves playing for Seattle but would still like improvements to the offense.

"I've definitely been hit," he said. "Been sacked almost 400 times. We've got to get better."

Also of note, he acknowledged that he would like input on the team's personnel decisions:

Wilson was sacked 47 times in 2020, third-most in the NFL behind only Carson Wentz and Deshaun Watson, respectively. He tied for the league lead with 48 sacks in 2019 and has been sacked at least 40 times in every season since 2013.

Jason Lisk of Team Rankings provided more details on the pass rushes:

Adding his 89.2 rushing attempts per season, the star quarterback is taking a lot of hits. The 32-year-old was selected to his seventh Pro Bowl this year after setting a career high with 40 passing touchdowns, but he is likely concerned about his longevity in the league.

Wilson does create some issues himself with his scrambling, but the Seahawks rarely invest much in the offensive line. They've only spent one first-round pick on the unit since drafting Wilson in 2012, taking Germain Ifedi.

The team mostly remade the unit last year but relied on rookie third-round pick Damien Lewis and unheralded free-agent signing Brandon Shell. According to Ben Linsey of Pro Football Focus, the Seahawks had the No. 16 pass-blocking line in 2020, which was the highest it's ranked with Wilson under center.

Duane Brown has one more year remaining on his contract, but there are question marks throughout the rest of the O-line that need to be solved going into 2021.

The offensive system could also provide Wilson with more short passes and screens, allowing him to get the ball out quicker. New offensive coordinator Shane Waldron could be under pressure to make the necessary changes to protect the quarterback.