Jaxon Smith-Njigba
#3 WR,
Seahawks

ACTUAL 2022
- FPTS
RANK: -
2023 SEASON
177 FPTS
RANK: 44
AGE
21 yrs
HEIGHT/WEIGHT
6'1'' / 200 lbs
COLLEGE
Ohio State
SEASON | GP | FPTS | RANK | TARGET | RECPT | REYD | RETD | REAVE |
2023 | 16 | 177 | 44th | 99 | 70 | 773 | 5 | 11 |
Reels in five passes
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 only connected on 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's just a matter of time before he truly breaks out.
Weekly Stats 2022
Stats not availablePerformance Splits 2020 to 2022
Stats not availableCareer Stats
Stats not availableTargeted five times Sunday
Smith-Njigba (wrist) finished with three catches (five targets) for 13 yards in Sunday's blowout loss to the Rams.
Smith-Njigba was bottled up like rest of the Seahawks' receiving corps minus DK Metcalf, who scored the team's lone touchdown Sunday. The positive takeaway for the rookie was his presence in the lineup and his usage (five targets tied for team lead) following wrist surgery just over three weeks prior to kickoff. Smith-Njigba appears to have a lock on the slot position in Seattle, and he could see extra targets against the Lions next week if Tyler Lockett (head) has lingering effects after missing part of Sunday's loss.
No role limitations after surgery
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.
Full practice Wednesday
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. It didn't take long for him to return to practice on Aug. 29, and now a little more than a week later, he was able to handle every available rep. 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.
In line to play Sunday
Coach Pete Carroll said Wednesday that Smith-Njigba (wrist) is slated to play Sunday against the Rams, Michael-Shawn Dugar of The Athletic reports.
Smith-Njigba underwent surgery to repair a slight fracture in his left wrist on Aug. 24, but he was back on the practice field Aug. 29 and continued to take part in drills this Monday. Wednesday's injury report will reveal how much the rookie first-round pick was able to handle in the first official session of Week 1 prep, but he's trending in a positive direction to be the Seahawks' No. 3 wide receiver behind DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett in the season opener.
Another practice logged Monday
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.
Returns to practice Tuesday
Smith-Njigba (wrist) took part in Tuesday's practice, Brady Henderson of ESPN.com reports.
Smith-Njigba appeared to run routes and catches passes in individual drills, albeit with a heavy wrap on his surgically repaired left wrist. It's a good sign following last Thursday's procedure to address a slight fracture in the rookie's wrist, and, as Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported Monday, Smith-Njigba will avoid injured reserve to begin the season. The main question mark now regards whether Smith-Njigba's health will be up to par by a Week 1 divisional matchup with the Rams.
Expected to start on active roster
Smith-Njigba (wrist) is expected to avoid the short-term IR list 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.
Has surgery, timetable TBD
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.