The forward returned to practice on Wednesday wearing a bubble mask, Tarik El-Bashir of Monumental Sports Network reported.
Wilson told reporters he has a small fracture in the sinus cavity of his face. He has been told to wear the bubble mask for four weeks, but has no plans to miss any time.
Wilson went straight to the locker room after taking a shot to the face from teammate Jakob Chychrun during the first period of Saturday’s game against the Montreal Canadiens. He returned to the game before the period had ended.
Wilson told reporters the swelling got worse on the flight home.
“I look a lot better now, if you can believe it, than I did a few days ago. When I got home after the flight? Oh, man, it wasn’t good,” Wilson said, per The Hockey News. “You go in to get a coffee somewhere and everyone’s like … they were kinda looking at you funny.”
Wilson said he doesn’t love the full face mask, but has no choice.
“The bubble’s fine as far as what you can see, but it can fog up, it’s in the way when you look down, there’s a grill there,” Wilson said. “You lose some peripherals. It’s different, it’s not great. But can’t fight with the doctors on it — at least not yet.”
It is not the first time Wilson has made a quick return from a similar injury.
Last season, Wilson broke his nose in a game against the Los Angeles Kings and returned before the game was over.
Wilson has 11 goals and 11 assists in 29 games this season.
Meanwhile, Caps star Alex Ovechkin (fibula) skated in a non-contact jersey before practice on Wednesday as he continues his rehab.