Seahawks’ Smith-Njigba to undergo wrist surgery

Brady Henderson, ESPNAug 22, 2023, 11:53 AM ET
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SEATTLE — Seattle Seahawks rookie wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba will have surgery to repair a broken bone in his wrist but still could be ready for the start of the regular season, coach Pete Carroll confirmed on Tuesday.

Smith-Njigba traveled to Philadelphia on Tuesday for the surgery, according to Carroll.

“He’s got a slight fracture that we just want to make sure we do the right thing to ensure that he gets back as soon as possible and as safe as possible,” Carroll said. “We’re going to be optististic about it. Three, four weeks, we’ll see what happens. We don’t know yet.”

The Seahawks open the season on Sept. 10 against the Los Angeles Rams in Seattle. Asked if Smith-Njigba could be back by then, Carroll said, “We’re staying optimistic. We’ll see what happens.”

Carroll was much more confident in saying Tuesday that linebacker Jordyn Brooks is on track to play in Week 1. Brooks, who tore his ACL on Jan. 1, appeared to be a full participant in his first practice since being activated off the Physically Unable to Perform list last week. He didn’t wear a brace on his surgically-repaired right knee, which he injured less than eight months ago.

“He felt so good about being back out playing football,” Carroll said. “He’s worked really, really, really hard to get back and he’s proven to the trainers and the docs and everybody that there’s no question that he can get back on the field now. So with three weeks to go before the season – this week, next week and the final prep week – he’s going to be ready to play I would think, for sure. I can’t imagine him not unless there’s a setback.”

Carroll said safety Jamal Adams is on track to be activcated off PUP either Wednesday or Thursday. That would allow Adams to take part in walk-throughs, with the plan to eventually work him back into practice – as the Seahawks did with Brooks. Adams tore his quad tendon in last season’s opener.

Smith-Njigba was injured during Seattle’s preseason game against the Dallas Cowboys on Saturday when he was tackled near the goal line after a 48-yard catch in the second quarter. Replays showed him flexing his left hand in apparent discomfort after using it to brace his fall to the turf. The Seahawks selected Smith-Njigba with the 20th overall pick in this year’s NFL draft, counting on the former Ohio State star to bolster an already talented receiver corps that features DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett. He has been one of the standouts of training camp, drawing praise for his route-running and steadiness while continually making plays in practice and working as a punt returner.

The 6-foot Smith-Njigba had six receptions for 83 yards over Seattle’s first two preseason games, including his 48-yard catch Saturday against Dallas.

The Seahawks’ receiver corps will already be without Dee Eskridge for the first six games while he serves an NFL suspension.

Dareke Young, who projects to be the fourth or fifth receiver, could also be out past Week 1 due to an abductor injury that may require surgery. Carroll said Tuesday that Young is leaving town to see a specialist in order to confirm that surgery is the best course of action. Cody Thompson is day-to-day with a shoulder injury while Cade Johnson, another roster hopeful, cleared concussion protocol and was back at practice on Tuesday.

The Seahawks’ other first-rounder this year, cornerback Devon Witherspoon, hasn’t practiced since Aug. 7 because of a hamstring injury, though he’s progressed to the point that he was able to take part in Tuesday’s walk-though. Witherspoon, the fifth overall pick, has been competing for the left cornerback and nickelback jobs.

“We’re really hoping that he can get back out here with time to prepare for the opener,” Carroll said. “The injury should be healed by then, but we’ve got to get him ready to play, too.”

Five of Seattle’s past seven first-round picks dating to 2016 have suffered notable injuries in training camp that caused them to miss time: offensive lineman Germain Ifedi (2016), running back Rashaad Penny (2018), defensive end L.J. Collier (2019), Witherspoon and Smith-Njigba.