The Seahawks got a welcome boost on the injury report Wednesday as Jaxon Smith-Njigba moved from limited work earlier in the week to a full participant ahead of Thursday Night Football against the Denver Broncos.
That’s an encouraging development for Seattle, which is set to lean heavily on its top pass-catcher against a Denver defense trying to clamp down on the air attack. But the week’s practice setup matters here. Monday and Tuesday weren’t full practices, and Wednesday was more of a walkthrough, so the upgrade doesn’t automatically mean Smith-Njigba is completely clear of the ankle issue.
Even so, the Seahawks have plenty to like about where things stand heading into Thursday night. Smith-Njigba has kept producing this season and continues to look like one of Seattle’s best offensive weapons. He’s been a steady source of separation, an easy target for quarterback Sam Darnold (or whoever is at QB), and he’s also continued to find the end zone.
Seattle will still want to be careful with him. The last thing the team needs is to push the injury and risk making it worse with a lot of season still ahead.
For now, though, the news is positive. Smith-Njigba’s availability matters in a game like this, and the Seahawks will be hoping his ankle holds up through Thursday night.
Denver’s task got tougher, too. The Broncos will be without Patrick Surtain and could also be missing Riley Moss, which is a major break for Seattle’s passing game.
In Other News...
Jaxon Smith-Njigba Just Became Seattle's Biggest Thursday Night X-Factor
Jaxon Smith-Njigbas week of practice offered a small dose of concern when the Seahawks receiver was limited by an ankle issue, but he heads into the matchup with Denver without an injury designation. That matters for a Seattle offense that has leaned on him heavily this season, with Smith-Njigba emerging as one of the teams most important playmakers through the first five games.
The timing only adds to the intrigue on Thursday night. Denver will be missing key defensive pieces in Pat Surtain II and Talanoa Hufanga, which opens a path for Seattle to keep feeding its top target if he looks like himself. For the Seahawks, the question is less about whether Smith-Njigba is available and more about how much damage he can do against a Broncos secondary that is suddenly shorthanded. [Read more 🡒]
Seahawks Suddenly Need A Spark From An Unsettling Backfield Situation
The Seahawks kept churning the bottom of the roster this week, signing running back Velus Jones Jr. off the practice squad and letting wide receiver Irv Charles go before bringing him back. It was the latest in a string of recent activations and releases involving the same players, a reminder of how fluid Seattles roster has become as it tries to navigate the back end of the season.
Jones has mostly made his mark on special teams this year, but the move also hints at a bigger role on offense if the team continues to be thin at running back. For a Seattle group looking for a spark, the backfield is suddenly one of the more unsettled spots on the roster, and the next few days could determine how much opportunity Jones gets to prove he can do more than cover kicks. [Read more 🡒]
Seahawks Still Have One Big Excuse To Silence Against Denver
Seattle heads into Week 6 with a chance to lean on the injury report as much as the matchup itself, since both sides are dealing with notable absences in the back seven and the Seahawks have a key offensive piece trending toward playing. Jaxon Smith-Njigba is expected to suit up despite an ankle issue, while Seattle will be down running backs Zach Charbonnet and Jadarian Price, plus linebackers Chazz Surratt and Drake Thomas, with Leonard Williams also trying to manage an ankle injury.
Denver, meanwhile, looks far more vulnerable in coverage than usual without cornerback Patrick Surtain II and safety Talanoa Hufanga, and Riley Moss is questionable entering the game. For a Seahawks team still trying to find its footing, that creates a clean path to make life difficult on the Broncos and leave little room for excuses if the offense cannot take advantage of the opening. [Read more 🡒]