Seattle Seahawks star rookie first-round pick Jaxon Smith-Njigba has been the talk of training camp and the preseason in the Pacific Northwest, continuing to show that he’s ready to play out of the gate.
That might not be the case.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported on Tuesday that the former Ohio State standout is undergoing wrist surgery in Philadelphia and could miss the opening of the regular season. The wide receiver injured said wrist during Saturday night’s preseason game against the Dallas Cowboys.
Smith-Njigba is expected to be Seattle’s starting slot guy as a rookie this coming season. In fact, quarterback Geno Smith has had nothing but great things to say about the No. 20 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.
“He’s learning; he’s picking up his assignments like all the other rookies and new guys. Jaxon’s been tremendous so far, and I’m looking forward to seeing him grow,” Smith told reporters back in May.
The 6-foot wide receiver missed all but three games last season for the Buckeyes. But he was among the nation’s most dominant receivers the previous season:
Jaxon Smith-Njigba stats (2021): 95 receptions, 1,606 yards, 9 TD
Through the first two preseason games of his career, Smith-Njigba has caught 6-of-7 targets for 83 yards. The hope here is that he can return sooner rather than later to help out behind star veterans DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett.
Then again, Seattle might take it slow with its young pass-catcher. It’s all about the long term when it comes to the studly rookie.
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