SEATTLE — Highly anticipated Seattle Sehawks rookie Jaxon Smith-Njigba will undergo wrist surgery Tuesday and will miss three to four weeks.
The surgery will repair a broken bone in his wrist. Coach Pete Carroll is “staying optimistic” that Smith-Njigba will be able to play in the Seahawks’ Sept. 10 season opener against the Los Angeles Rams, but made no guarantees.
The injury occurred at the tail end of a highlight-reel play by Smith-Njigba that saw him nearly score his first professional touchdown in the Seahawks' preseason win over the Dallas Cowboys on Saturday.
Smith-Njigba was selected No. 20 overall by the Seahawks in the 2023 NFL Draft, and hauled in six catches over his first two preseason games.
The Seahawks already are down a receiver to begin the regular season, as Dee Eskridge will miss the first six games of the regular season due to a suspension.
One undrafted player that could step up and play a role if Smith-Njigba's absence is extended is former UCLA Bruin Jake Bobo, who has been the talk of training camp at the position and made some key plays in each of Seattle's two preseason games.
Smith-Njigba's injury also means the Seahawks likely will be without both of their first-round draft picks for the team's final preseason game on Saturday in Green Bay. No. 5 selection Devon Witherspoon hasn't been on the field at full speed since Aug. 7 as he deals with a hamstring issue.
The Seahawks' first regular season game will be Sept. 10 at Lumen Field against the Los Angeles Rams.
People in western Washington will be able to tune in live to the Seahawks' final preseason game Saturday exclusively on KING 5, beginning at 10 a.m. PT.
BACK TO PRACTICE
Seahawks linebacker Jordyn Brooks participated in 11-on-11 drills Tuesday, his first on-field action since tearing the ACL in his right knee in Week 17 last season. Brooks was activated off the physically unable to perform list on Aug. 15, less than eight months after undergoing knee surgery.
Brooks took part in walkthroughs for the past week, before getting the go-ahead to hit the field. With nearly three weeks to go, Carroll expects Brooks to play in the season opener.
“He felt so good about being back out playing football,” Carroll said. “He’s working really, really, really hard to get back, and he’s proven it to the trainers and the (doctors) and everybody that there’s no question he can get back on the field now.”
JAMAL ADAMS UPDATE
Seahawks safety Jamal Adams could be activated off the PUP list either Wednesday or Thursday and start participating in walkthroughs, Carroll said. Adams suffered a torn quad tendon against Denver in last year’s season opener, and missed the rest of the season.
“That’s a big step for him to go forward, but it isn’t a step that means he’s going to be back out practicing yet,” Carroll said. “We want to get him in the flow.”