Seattle Seahawks, Pete Carroll hopeful Jaxon Smith-Njigba will play Week 1

When Jaxon Smith-Njigba broke a bone in his wrist playing against the Cowboys fewer than two weeks ago, it didn’t seem possible he could play in the opener.

As he had surgery to repair the fracture, doctors thought it would be three to four weeks before the rookie to see the field again. However, Smith-Njigba is back on the practice field. OK, his left wrist is heavily wrapped, but his presence was a good sign that he’s ahead of schedule.

“He’s doing remarkably well,” Seattle coach Pete Carroll told reporters. “I saw him respond to the injury at the outset. And then I saw him respond to when they told him he’s going to have to get operated on. So I’m not surprised at the attitude that he’s brought post-surgery.

“He’s out here working, catching balls, catching punts, doing everything. He ain’t worried about it. It could have gone a number of different ways. It’s gone the way of the competitor. He’s not going to be denied. He wants to play football.”

The Seahawks allowed reporters to watch parts of practices on Tuesday and Wednesday. There were several clips showing Jaxon Smith-Njigba in action.

Jaxon Smith-Njigba back at practice today. pic.twitter.com/uNLQV54z43

— Bob Condotta (@bcondotta) August 29, 2023

Jaxon Smith-Njigba practicing with wrap on left wrist

Reporters, including those with ESPN, also spotted the receiver wearing a heavier wrap on Wednesday. So does that mean Jaxon Smith-Njigba will see action on Sept. 10, when the Seahawks open against the Rams?

“I’m hoping,” Carroll said. “I don’t know. We’ll see what happens. He looks great right now.”

He’d also look great on the field, catching passes from Geno Smith, last year’s NFL Comeback Player of the Year. The Seahawks selected Smith-Njigba with the 20th pick of April’s first round. The former Ohio State star also was the first wideout off the board. He’d fit in nicely as the third receiver with vets DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett. Plus, two Seattle receivers —  Dareke Young (groin) and Cody Thompson (shoulder) — are injured. Carroll didn’t give an injury update on those two.

Carroll then gushed some more about his young wideout. When he’s healthy, he’s so very good, as evidenced by what he did in high school back in Texas and with the Buckeyes.

“I think it’s a great statement about his competitiveness and his mentality,” Carroll said of Jaxon Smith-Njigba. “He’s not going to be held out. He’s going for it. Really, you couldn’t ask for more. You couldn’t ask for a better approach, and then his discipline about coming out and working and getting everything done. He hasn’t even flinched. Awesome.”