will this work?

would it be possible for me to simply germinate the seeds inside, plant them outside in some potting soil (or soil from my lawn?), water them, and have them grow?

It might, It might not,the younger the plant the more chances you take, good harvest is all about making the odds in your favor...

It'll most likely work, just not likely a huge yield.

Watch out for flooding outside. My friend used to have a couple little guys outside then a storm came and they were gone. Maybe plant them in a pot and take them inside when there's a storm.

Yard soil is usually fairly crappy stuff. Commercial potting soil has no bugs nor pathogens. Worth doing- you don't need much for one plant. Avoid potting soils with fertilisers pre-mixed in.

If you plant outdoors, the time of year you plant is important. May's a pretty good time for much of the northern hemisphere. Smart guerrilla growers started germinating seeds indoors back in March.