Coach Pete Carroll told members of the media on Tuesday that Seattle Seahawks rookie Jackson Smith-Njegba has a “minor fracture” in his left wrist. Here’s what you need to know:
- Smith-Njegba was injured on a 48-yard catch and run in the second quarter against the Cowboys on Saturday night. He played the next snap – a 1-yard touchdown run by Deejay Dallas – and then sat out the rest of the game.
- Carroll said Smith-Njegba could be out for three to four weeks and would see a specialist on Tuesday for more information. “We’ll be optimistic about that. Three, four weeks, we’ll see what happens. We don’t know yet.”
- Smith-Njigba, the 20th pick in the 2023 NFL Draft from Ohio State, had six receptions for 83 yards during Seattle’s first two preseason games.
- Carroll added that inside linebacker Jordyn Brooks is expected to play in the season opener, less than eight months after his ACL surgery. Safety Jamaal Adams can also return to training tomorrow for the first time since he tore his quadriceps tendon in September.
What Carroll says
“He’s going to have surgery,” said the Seattle coach. “He’s with a specialist in the hand. He has a slight fracture. We just want to make sure we’re doing the right thing to ensure he’s back as quickly as possible and as safely as possible. We’ll be optimistic about that. Three to four weeks, we’ll see what happens. We don’t know yet.”
Is the first week in play?
“We’re hopeful,” Carroll said. “We’ll see what happens.”
Carroll told members of the media that Smith-Njegba is in Philadelphia for further evaluation. He will undergo surgery, if necessary, no later than Wednesday.
Asked about Adams, Carroll said: “There’s a chance we’ll get him back here (for inspection) tomorrow.
“It’s a big step for him going forward. But it’s not a move that means he’s going back to training just yet. We want to get him in the flow. … So, I think we’ll probably get that done tomorrow or the day after.
the athlete Instant Analysis:
How does this affect Seattle’s offense?
The Seahawks’ obvious adjustment in the absence of Smith-Njigba is to rely on the two tight end packages. Seattle used 12 homers for the second highest average in the league last season, according to TruMedia. It made sense at the time based on how the list was built.
Will Dissly’s ability to play the line tight and split wide also gave them versatility in heavy singles combinations. It was Seattle’s first snap against the Cowboys out of 13 (three tight ends and one running back). The first play was a run to right with Dissly connecting on right tackle Abe Lucas. Seattle did not rally before the next play, which featured Dissly lining up in the slot and running a whip against a safety for eight yards. Having healthy, versatile tight ends will help Seattle’s offense remain dynamic in whatever games it has to play without Smith-Nggba. – Duggar
required reading
(Photo: Tom Hawk/Getty Images)
