In terms of 2023 value, Smith-Njigba's landing spot doesn't look great. After all, receivers other than Tyler Lockett and DK Metcalf combined for just 75 targets in Seattle last year. But the Seahawks didn't draft him in the first round just to have him learn from Lockett and Metcalf this year. The Seahawks threw 136 passes to tight ends last year and spent most of the year in two tight end sets, and that is what you should expect to change. Smith-Njigba became the first of the receiver trio to suffer a key injury during camp, getting surgery to repair a slight fracture on his wrist, but he was able to return to practice and catch passes before the end of August. Still, his status for Week 1 is up in the air. We wouldn't draft Smith-Njigba before Round 10 in a redraft league, but he's a top-three pick in one-QB rookie only drafts.
Seahawks' Jaxon Smith-Njigba: Reels in five passes
Rotowire
Smith-Njigba caught five of six targets for 34 yards in Sunday's 37-31 overtime win versus the Lions.
Smith-Njigba exited the game briefly with what appeared to be a leg injury, per Gregg Bell of The Tacoma News Tribune. However, the rookie was cleared and finished tied for second on the team in targets with DK Metcalf. Smith-Njigba has connected on only short passes thus far, as his longest gain of the day was 16 yards. Nevertheless, it's promising that the first-round pick is getting targeted frequently through two weeks. It may be just a matter of time before he breaks out.
... See More... See Less
Seahawks' Jaxon Smith-Njigba: No role limitations after surgery
Rotowire
Coach Pete Carroll said Friday that Smith-Njigba won't have any limitations Sunday against the Rams despite have wrist surgery less than three weeks ago, Gregg Bell of The Tacoma News Tribune reports.
Reports on a return timeline were all over the place after the rookie broke a bone in his wrist during a preseason game, and he ultimately made it back on the field in keeping with the most optimistic of estimates. Smith-Njigba was a full practice participant throughout the week and should quickly become one of the league's busier No. 3 receivers, even while sharing an offense with DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett.
... See More... See Less
Seahawks' Jaxon Smith-Njigba: Full practice Wednesday
Rotowire
Smith-Njigba (wrist) practiced fully Wednesday, John Boyle of the Seahawks' official site reports.
Smith-Njigba has made a speedy recovery following an Aug. 24 procedure to repair a slight fracture in his right wrist. He returned to practice five days after having the procedure, and now a little more than a week later, he was able to handle every available rep in Seattle's first official Week 1 session. The rookie first-round pick thus is slated to be Seattle's No. 3 wide receiver behind DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett this Sunday against the Rams.
... See More... See Less
Seahawks' Jaxon Smith-Njigba: Another practice logged Monday
Rotowire
Smith-Njigba (wrist) participated in practice Monday, Michael-Shawn Dugar of The Athletic reports.
Smith-Njigba has been handling on-field work for a little less than a week after undergoing surgery to repair a slight fracture in his left wrist on Aug. 24. The Seahawks aren't required to post their first Week 1 injury report until Wednesday, but the rookie first-round pick seems poised to be listed as limited, at the very least. The bigger question that remains is whether or not Smith-Njigba will do enough this week to gain clearance to make his pro debut in Sunday's season opener against the Rams.
... See More... See Less
Seahawks' Jaxon Smith-Njigba: Expected to start on active roster
Rotowire
Smith-Njigba (wrist) is expected to avoid injured reserve and begin the regular season on the active roster, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Smith-Njigba's availability for Week 1 still looks uncertain, but beginning the year on IR would have forced him to miss at least the first four games of the season. Coach Pete Carroll said he hopes the rookie first-round pick's recovery is only a "3-to-4-week deal," per Gregg Bell of The Tacoma News Tribune, so there's some reason for optimism about his chances of getting on the field in the first month of the season. Smith-Njigba underwent surgery Aug. 24 to address a minor wrist fracture.
... See More... See Less
Seahawks' Jaxon Smith-Njigba: Has surgery, timetable TBD
Rotowire
Smith-Njigba underwent wrist surgery Thursday but remains without a clear timetable for return, Michael-Shawn Dugar of The Athletic reports.
Coach Pete Carroll said the surgery "went great" but didn't put a timeline on Smith-Njigba's return to the field. With the season just over two weeks away, it's difficult to envision the rookie out there for Week 1, but it sounds like we should expect to see him debut sometime in the season's first month. DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett will carry the bulk of the load in JSN's absence.
... See More... See Less
Seahawks' Jaxon Smith-Njigba: Impressing early
Rotowire
Smith-Njigba has impressed head coach Pete Carroll and quarterback Geno Smith with his route-running and hands, Gregg Bell of The News Tribune reports.
Smith-Njigba eased into the offseason program because he missed most of his junior season at Ohio State with a hamstring injury, but the rookie has been full go since mandatory minicamp in June. With DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett locked into the top two roles, Smith-Njigba was battling for the No. 3 spot. The first-round pick has seemingly won the job already after showcasing his hands, route-running and confidence through the first few practices. He was ultimately expected to win this role after an ultra-productive college career, so the only question that remains is how many targets he can garner behind Metcalf and Lockett.
