Seahawks WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba to have wrist surgery
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - AUGUST 10: Jaxon Smith-Njigba #11 of the Seattle Seahawks warms up before the preseason game against the Minnesota Vikings at Lumen Field on August 10, 2023 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Jane Gershovich/Getty Images)
RENTON, Wash. - Seattle Seahawks rookie wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba is having surgery to repair a broken bone in his wrist.
Per Adam Schefter of ESPN.com, Smith-Njigba broke the bone in his wrist on his 48-yard reception in the second quarter of Saturday night's game against the Dallas Cowboys.
"He's going to get surgery with a hand specialist," head coach Pete Carroll said after practice on Tuesday. "He's got a slight fracture that we just want to make sure that we do the right thing to ensure that he gets back as soon as possible in the safest way possible."
Smith-Njigba appeared to have injured his left wrist bracing against the ground when he was tackled at the 1-yard line by Cowboys cornerback Eric Scott Jr.
Carroll called the issue a 3-4 week injury, which puts his availability for the season opener against the Los Angeles Rams in the season opener on September 10 into question.
"We're going to be optimistic about it," Carroll said. "Three, four weeks, we'll see what happens."
Carroll said Smith-Njigba flew to Philadelphia on Thursday and will have the surgery "as soon as they can get it."
Smith-Njigba leads the team in catches this preseason with six receptions for 83 yards in preseason games against Dallas and the Minnesota Vikings. The No. 20 overall pick out of Ohio State has been impressive throughout training camp for the Seahawks and appeared primed to play a big role in Seattle's passing game alongside DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett. Depending on the length of recovery from the surgery, the Seahawks may have to begin the year without him.
Additionally, the injury leaves Seattle's receiving corps a bit thin. Dee Eskridge is going to miss the first six games of the season to suspension and is sidelined currently with a knee sprain as well. Dareke Young just returned to practice last week after dealing with a hip/groin injury for over a week, but missed practice again on Tuesday as he may need surgery as well.
"He's got this adductor thing that he's got to get looked at seriously. We might have to get it fixed," Carroll said. "… He’s going out there thinking he may need surgery."
Cody Thompson (shoulder) and Matt Landers (groin) missed practice as well on Tuesday as Seattle signed Malik Flowers for additional depth as the group has been depleted.
Cade Johnson returned to limited work in practice after missing a week with a concussion. Both Thompson and Johnson have a chance to play this weekend in the preseason finale against the Green Bay Packers.
Undrafted rookie Jake Bobo may now have a clear path to make the roster due to the injuries around him at receiver. Bobo has been a standout in training camp for the Seahawks. However, his path to make the roster was difficult due to not having a clear role he could play on special teams as a depth receiver. But with Smith-Njigba potentially out to start the year, Eskridge suspended and Young potentially needing surgery, the Seahawks may need Bobo as a big part of the game plan agianst the Rams in Week 1.
"Jake's flying pretty high right now, he’s done great," Carroll said. "He hasn’t just done well in the few plays in the game. He’s done well in practice throughout. He’s been really steady like it’s not a surprise to see him play like that in the games. We were thrilled to see what would happen you know, cause he’s been making plays out here. He looks like he’s part of the flow to me."
Injury Notes:
– Pete Carroll said that safety Jamal Adams could be activated from the physically unable to perform list as soon as Wednesday as he nears a return to the field from a torn quadriceps tendon sustained in last year's season opener against the Denver Broncos.
"There’s a chance we’ll have him back out here tomorrow," Carroll said. "That’s a big step for him to go forward, but it isn’t a step that means he’s going to be out practicing yet. We want to get him in the flow, looking at the weeks we have to build up and looking at the preparation time. He’s ready to do that, and I brought it up to him and he responded really well. I think tomorrow or the next day we’ll get that done."
As the team has done with the returns of tight end Noah Fant, cornerback Riq Woolen and linebacker Jordyn Brooks from the PUP list, Adams would first get the chance to get on the field for walkthrough practices before taking another step forward to participate in practices.
Brooks was back at practice for the first time on Tuesday after a week of work in walkthroughs since coming off the PUP list.
"He felt so good about being back out playing football," Carroll said. "He’s worked really, really, really hard to get back. He’s proven to trainers, the docs, and everybody that there is no question he can get back on the field now. With three weeks to go before the season, … he's going to be ready to play we think, for sure. We can't imagine him not unless there's a setback."
Brooks was cleared to return last week just seven months removed from surgery to repair his damaged ACL in his right knee.
"To make it through with the attitude that he’s had and the work ethic has been stellar. It’s why he’s out here. He's out here running around like everybody else right now. I love seeing that he's so fired up about that thought," Carroll said.
– Defensive tackle Mike Morris had a surgery on his shoulder on Monday. Carroll has said it's an old injury that began to resurface and cause problems for Morris in practice recently.
"Mike had a procedure yesterday to see how he would respond to it. He’s got an old shoulder that’s bothering him a little bit. A little bit worried about that, but it’s still pretty sore," Carroll said.
– Cornerback Devon Witherspoon took part in the team's walkthrough before practice on Tuesday for the first time since pulling his hamstring in practice over a week ago.
"He felt like he ran pretty good with the short sprints he did," Carroll said. "Just keep progressing. We’re really hoping that he can get back out here with time to prepare for the opener. The injury should be healed by then, but we have to get him ready to play. I’m more concerned about that."
– Safety Jonathan Sutherland is day-to-day with a groin injury and right tackle Abe Lucas was held out of practice Tuesday to rest his knee. Nose tackle Cameron Young remains sidelined with a calf strain. Wide receiver Easop Winston Jr. returned to practice after missing a few days with a groin strain.
– Linebacker Vi Jones may miss the start of the season due to a high-ankle sprain that has sidelined him the last two weeks.
"He started so well, looked so good, and we were so excited about him making the jump from year one to year two, but he showed us enough to tell us that he’s ready, but he just had a nasty sprain. He’s not back yet," Carroll said.
– Running back Kenny McIntosh is running again after spraining his knee in the team's mock game scrimmage earlier this month. He's not quite ready yet to rejoin the team in practice, however.
"He’s getting close," Carroll said. "He’s really optimistic about it. He’s not quite there with all the movements he has to do to get back on the practice field, but he’s running and working hard at it. It doesn’t look like he’s going to make it this week, so we’ll just have to see what happens."