Seahawks Analysis: Who Will Replace Injured Jaxon Smith-Njigba?

There's an outside chance the Seattle Seahawks will have their dynamic first-round pick back in uniform for the season opener, but after undergoing wrist surgery, the team will likely need other receivers to step up in his absence.

With the regular season opener against the Los Angeles Rams less than three weeks away, the Seattle Seahawks may not have first-round pick Jaxon Smith-Njigba available, creating questions at the receiver position in the short term.

As announced by ESPN insider Adam Schefter on a not-so-welcomed Tuesday morning news drop, Smith-Njigba flew to Philadelphia to undergo surgery to repair a broken bone in his left wrist. The former Ohio State star suffered the injury when his wrist hit the ground hard at the conclusion of a 48-yard reception during Saturday's 22-14 preseason win over Dallas.

While Schefter reported Smith-Njigba could be ready in time to play against the Rams, that seems like a rapid recovery from wrist surgery. Most likely, even after seeing veteran Tyler Lockett return from hand surgery after missing just one game last December, the Seahawks will be without the receiver for at least one regular season game, if not more.

Smith-Njigba's injury is just the latest to strike Seattle's receiving corps, as already suspended third-year wideout Dee Eskridge suffered a knee sprain in the preseason opener and former South Dakota State star Cade Johnson suffered a concussion in the same game. Meanwhile, undrafted rookie Matt Landers missed Saturday's contest with a quad injury and his status remains up in the air.

What does Smith-Njigba's injury mean for the Seahawks in the short term? Here's a look at four players who could be called upon to replace him while sidelined:

Jake Bobo

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Quickly becoming a fan favorite in his short time with the Seahawks, Bobo has been a revelation during his first NFL training camp and inspired the #MoreBobo movement. Despite possessing less than ideal athletic traits, including 4.99 40-yard dash speed, the former UCLA and Duke product has excelled between the lines thanks to pristine route running, soft hands, and excellent size, earning the trust of quarterbacks Geno Smith and Drew Lock as a reliable target.

Through two preseason games, Bobo has caught five passes for a team-best 98 yards and scored a 19-yard touchdown in a win over the Vikings. While he hasn't played much in the slot in his brief time with the Seahawks, most of his production last season at UCLA came from inside, as he caught 40 of his 57 receptions working out of the slot. In terms of athleticism, he couldn't be much different than Smith-Njigba, but his natural route running tools and ability to win contested catches would serve him well as a big-bodied slot option to fill the void.

Cody Thompson

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Somewhat forgotten after missing all of last season with shoulder injury, Thompson has quietly turned in a strong training camp, showing off his versatility catching passes from out wide as well as a the slot. The former Toledo standout has impressed Seattle's coaching staff since he first arrived during the 2020 season, but depth in front of him and injuries have prevented him from seeing much action in the regular season, as he has yet to record his first official reception.

But with Smith-Njigba potentially out for at least a game or two, Thompson may finally get his chance to contribute on offense. In his first exhibition action of 2023, he reeled in a 32-yard catch from Lock, showcasing his big play potential before exiting for precautionary reasons after taking a hard hit on the sideline. Assuming he's healthy and avoided injury on that play, given his experience playing in Shane Waldron's system and rapport with Smith dating back to their time working together as reserves in 2020 and 2021, he could be an unexpected favorite to step into the lineup.

Dareke Young

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Like Thompson, Young hasn't had many offensive snaps in the NFL, as the 2022 seventh-round pick out of Lenoir Rhyne mainly cut his teeth on special teams as a rookie before catching his first two career receptions in the season finale. A fantastic athlete with 4.4 speed at 223 pounds, he possesses intriguing developmental traits to mold into a slot receiver with jet sweep potential, but those tools have yet to manifest into much preseason production, as he was held without a catch on four targets on Saturday.

Coming off a hip/groin injury of his own, Young's blocking ability and prior running back background give him feathers in the cap that Bobo and Thompson don't have in terms of position and scheme flexibility. Last year, he played a handful of snaps as a fullback, a unique quality few receivers in the NFL can match. With that said, he's not near as polished of a route runner and pass catcher, as he still has struggled hauling in passes in contested situations and remains a work in progress with his hands, so he might not be ready for such a lucrative role replacing Smith-Njigba.

Cade Johnson

Currently in concussion protocol after a scary hit in the preseason opener led to him being sped to Harborview Medical Center for evaluation, Johnson stands out as the wild card to step in for Smith-Njigba. Compared to the other three players on this list, at least in terms of real NFL experience, the former undrafted signee looks like a grizzled veteran, as he made two critical first down catches in last year's season finale and followed up with three catches in a playoff loss to San Francisco.

Like Thompson, Johnson has extensive experience catching passes from Smith, who served as the scout team quarterback behind Russell Wilson during his rookie year when he was on the practice squad in 2021. Their chemistry showed in the final two games last year, as the veteran signal caller willingly threw the ball his direction in high stakes situations. He also has played 75 percent of his snaps from the slot in limited NFL action, making him a natural fit to fill in for Smith-Njigba for a few games. If healthy, he shouldn't be ruled out as a candidate to play a lot against the Rams in Week 1.

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