Jaxon Smith-Njigba underwent 'elaborate' surgery for wrist fracture
Seahawks rookie wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba recently flew to Philadelphia to undergo surgery for a wrist fracture. Per the team website, head coach Pete Carroll said the procedure was successful.
The former Ohio State star had a small crack in his wrist that required surgery. Carroll provided an update on Smith-Njigba, though it didn’t include an updated timeline on a return.
“I haven’t heard any word since the surgery other than what they initially said, that everything went great,” Carroll said. “They showed us the pictures and all that kind of stuff, so we saw that. It’s an elaborate surgery for such a small crack, but it’s going to be so safe, so we’re really pleased with it, and so is he.”
It’s expected that Smith-Njigba could miss between three to four weeks. That could put his status for Week 1 in jeopardy. Seattle plays the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday, Sept. 10.
Smith-Njigba played in each of the first two preseason games for the Seahawks. He caught three passes for 25 yards in the first contest against the Vikings, a 24-13 win for Seattle.
In the second game against the Cowboys, Smith-Njigba led the team hauling in three more receptions for 58 yards. He will miss the Packers on Saturday, Aug. 26.
The Seahawks selected Smith-Njigba with the No. 20 pick in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft. He’s expected to make a quick impact in Seattle’s offense — though his professional debut may come a little later than expected.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba shined at Ohio State
Although he missed most of the 2022 campaign due to injury, Smith-Njigba proved to be an impressive target in Ohio State’s offense during his time in Columbus. He really popped off the screen during his 2021 season.
Smith-Njigba ended that year as the Big Ten’s leading receiver, totaling 1,606 yards and nine touchdowns on 95 receptions. He averaged an impressive 16.9 yards per snag.
He exceeded the 100-yard mark in each of his final five games in 2021, but he was most impressive in the Rose Bowl Game win over Utah. In that contest, Smith-Njigba put up ridiculous numbers, totaling 15 catches for 347 yards and three touchdowns in the victory.
Obviously, excelling in the NFL is a different story. But if Smith-Njigba can find some of that juice he had during his 2021 season with the Buckeyes, he’ll get along just fine at the professional level.