The Seattle Seahawks are preparing for a pivotal 2023 NFL Season where playoff contention and the NFC West Division are certainly in play. The Seahawks will look to finish training camp and the preseason strong as they prepare for Week 1 at home against the Los Angeles Rams. They will need all the help and development they can get to prepare for a healthy and revenge-minded Rams team. Unfortunately, the Seahawks received their first bad news for the first game of the season, with Jaxon Smith-Njigba likely being out for three to four weeks due to a fractured hand. There was hope that he would have been back for the week one matchup, but the team doesn’t want to risk the health of their potentially impactful rookie.
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Seattle Seahawks Get Bad News for Week 1
Impact of the losing Jaxon Smith-Njigba
The Seahawks drafted Smith-Njigba with the 20th overall pick to help elevate the offense that ranked 18th in passing yards per game (205). D.K. Metcalf and Tyler Lockett have been excellent weapons for the past few seasons. The lack of a definitive number-three receiver, however, has limited an efficient Seahawks’ offense. Seattle drafted to him immediately fill in the need at slot receiver. Through the fall training camp and the two preseason games played, Smith-Njigba looks better than advertised when Seattle drafted him. In the two games played with limited reps, Smith-Njigba caught six receptions for 83 yards. Fans and football media loved his excellent route-running, reliability in catching the ball, and his runs after the catch.
The Seahawks are now back at square one when it comes to the wide receiver corp from last season. Offensive coordinator Shane Waldron will have to find another receiver to take Smith-Njigba’s spot while he is out. D’Wayne Eskridge is not only injured, yet again, he is suspended by the NFL for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy. Smith-Njigba’s main backup Cade Johnson just recently came out of the hospital after a serious concussion. Waldron could utilize a run-heavy scheme in week one with Kenneth Walker III and rookie Zach Charbonnet. The Seahawks will face a Rams’ defense that still features a healthy Aaron Donald.
Jake Bobo Could Step up for the Seahawks
One of the biggest underdogs to prove their worth to get on an NFL roster this training camp session is undrafted rookie wide receiver Jake Bobo. Bobo has been one of the most consistent and exciting playmakers in the Seahawks’ preseason. In the two preseason games for the Seahawks, Bobo caught five receptions for 98 yards and a touchdown.
Bobo has been a pass-catcher who has stepped up to the plate when other receivers have been physically unable to, or other players have been disappointing. He could be a player who could rise quickly to fill the role of Smith-Njigba while he is out. When Smith-Njigba comes back, Bobo could find himself in the mix of a four-receiver lineup with the starters. Bobo is not only showing he deserves a roster spot, but he is also showing he may be ready for significant reps in the regular season.
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