The Seahawks were hopeful Jaxon Smith-Njigba could make a quick return after fracturing his wrist in the team's second preseason game, but even for a coach as optimistic as Pete Carroll, the rookie receiver's comeback has been impressive.
Less than three weeks after having surgery on his injured wrist, Smith-Njigba was practicing fully this week and is not even listed on the final injury report of the week, meaning he will play when the Seahawks host the Rams Sunday at Lumen Field.
"Everything has surprised me," Carroll said of Smith-Njigba's quick return. "It could have been an entirely different process throughout, but he was a true competitor, he's the real deal, and he demonstrated that."
Asked if he has seen any limitations in Smith-Njigba's game, Carroll said, "He hasn't shown one. Seriously, it's been amazing, like I've been saying."
For his part, Smith-Njigba said playing with a brace on his wrist is "a little adjustment, but I've been getting adjusted real well. It's been good so far."
Smith-Njigba, who didn't immediately realize he had fractured his wrist at the end of a long catch and run against the Cowboys, hoped for a speedy return, but didn't know what to expect.
"I just took it day-by-day," he said. "Whatever they told me, I took with a grain of salt and figured it out as we kept going… With the information I was given, I just thought I could be back soon."
Smith-Njigba, who had taken ahold of the No. 3 receiver job before the injury, figures to have a significant role in the offense this week and beyond, and the 20th overall pick can't wait to get his NFL career underway, especially after missing most of his final year at Ohio State due to a hamstring injury.
"I'm very excited," he said. "A dream come true. Living out the dream. Excited. Get to put the helmet on, the shoulder pads on, and get out there Sunday.
"I'm blessed. I'm blessed for the opportunity for the Seahawks to pick me up at 20 and now I get to see the season. It's a long hard road to get here but I wouldn't want it any other way. I'm just thankful for the opportunity. I learned a lot sitting out last year and I get to use the tools that I learned to be greater and have success, hopefully."
Take a look at the 53-man roster for the 2023 Seahawks.
0 LB Devin Bush is in his fifth season in the NFL and his first season with the Seahawks.
Seahawks linebacker Devin Bush (0)
1 WR Dee Eskridge is in his third season in the NFL and his third season with the Seahawks.
Seahawks wide receiver Dee Eskridge (1)
2 QB Drew Lock is in his fifth season in the NFL and his second season with the Seahawks.
Seahawks quarterback Drew Lock (2)
4 P Michael Dickson is in his sixth season in the NFL and his sixth season with the Seahawks.
Seahawks punter Michael Dickson (4)
5 K Jason Myers is in his ninth season in the NFL and his fifth season with the Seahawks.
Seahawks kicker Jason Myers (5)
6 S Quandre Diggs is in his ninth season in the NFL and his fifth season with the Seahawks.
Seahawks safety Quandre Diggs (6)
7 QB Geno Smith is in his 11th season in the NFL and his fifth season with the Seahawks.
Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith (7)
8 CB Coby Bryant is in his second year in the NFL and his second year with the Seahawks.
Seahawks cornerback Coby Bryant (8)
9 RB Kenneth Walker III is in his second year in the NFL and his second season with the Seahawks.
Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III (9)
11 WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba is in his first season in the NFL and his first season with the Seahawks.
Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (11)
14 WR DK Metcalf is in his fifth season in the NFL and his fifth season with the Seahawks.
Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf (14)
16 WR Tyler Lockett is in his ninth season in the NFL and his ninth season with the Seahawks.
Seahawks wide receiver Tyler Lockett (16)
19 WR Jake Bobo is in his first season in the NFL and his first season with the Seahawks.
Seahawks wide receiver Jake Bobo (19)
20 FS Julian Love is in his fifth season in the NFL and his first season with the Seahawks.
Seahawks safety Julian Love (20)
21 CB Devon Witherspoon is in his first season in the NFL and first season with the Seahawks.
Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon (21)
22 CB Tre Brown is in his third season in the NFL and his third season with the Seahawks.
Seahawks cornerback Tre Brown (22)
23 CB Artie Burns is in his eighth season in the NFL and his second season with the Seahawks.
Seahawks cornerback Artie Burns (23)
25 RB Kenny McIntosh is in his first season in the NFL and his first season with the Seahawks.
26 RB Zach Charbonnet is in his first season in the NFL and his first season with the Seahawks.
Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet (26)
27 CB Riq Woolen is in his second season in the NFL and his second season with the Seahawks.
Seahawks cornerback Riq Woolen (27)
30 CB Michael Jackson is in his fifth season in the NFL and his third season with the Seahawks.
Seahawks cornerback Michael Jackson (30)
31 RB DeeJay Dallas is in his fourth season in the NFL and his fourth season with the Seahawks.
Seahawks running back DeeJay Dallas (31)
32 S Jerrick Reed II is in his first season in the NFL and his first season with the Seahawks.
Seahawks safety Jerrick Reed II (32)
33 SS Jamal Adams is in his seventh season in the NFL and his fourth season with the Seahawks.
Seahawks safety Jamal Adams (33)
Seahawks TE Brady Russell is in his first season in the NFL and his first season with the Seahawks.
Seahawks tight end Brady Russell (38).
41 LS Chris Stoll is in his first season in the NFL and his first season with the Seahawks.
44 FB/LB Nick Bellore is in his 13th season in the NFL and his fifth season with the Seahawks.
Seahawks fullback/linebacker Nick Bellore (44)
51 C Olu Oluwatimi is in his first season in the NFL and his first season with the Seahawks.
Seahawks center Olu Oluwatimi (51)
52 LB Darrell Taylor is in his fourth season in the NFL and fourth season with the Seahawks.
Seahawks linebacker Darrell Taylor (52)
53 LB Boye Mafe is in his second season in the NFL and his second season with the Seahawks.
Seahawks linebacker Boye Mafe (53)
54 LB Bobby Wagner is in his 12th season in the NFL and his 11th season with the Seahawks.
Seahawks linebacker Bobby Wagner (54)
55 DE Dre'Mont Jones is in his fifth season in the NFL and his first season with the Seahawks.
Seahawks defensive end Dre'Mont Jones (55)
56 LB Jordyn Brooks is in his fourth season in the NFL and his fourth season with the Seahawks.
Seahawks linebacker Jordyn Brooks (56)
Seahawks outside linebacker Frank Clark (57).
58 LB Derick Hall is in his first season in the NFL and his first season with the Seahawks.
Seahawks linebacker Derick Hall (58)
59 LB Jon Rhattigan is in his third season in the NFL and his third season with the Seahawks.
Seahawks linebacker Jon Rhattigan (59)
63 C Evan Brown is in his sixth season in the NFL and his first season with the Seahawks.
Seahawks center Evan Brown (63)
Seattle Seahawks offensive tackle McClendon Curtis (66)
Seattle Seahawks offensive tackle McClendon Curtis (66)
67 OT Charles Cross is in his second season in the NFL and his second season with the Seahawks.
Seahawks tackle Charles Cross (67)
68 G Damien Lewis is in his fourth season in the NFL and his fourth season with the Seahawks.
Seahawks guard Damien Lewis (68)
72 OT Abraham Lucas is in his second season in the NFL and his second season with the Seahawks.
Seahawks tackle Abraham Lucas (72)
75 G Anthony Bradford is in his first season in the NFL and his first season with the Seahawks.
Seattle Seahawks guard Anthony Bradford (75)
78 OT Stone Forsythe is in his third season in the NFL and his third season with the Seahawks.
Seahawks tackle Stone Forsythe (78)
Seattle Seahawks offensive tackle Raiqwon O'Neal (79)
Seattle Seahawks offensive tackle Raiqwon O'Neal (79)
84 TE Colby Parkinson is in his fourth season in the NFL and his fourth season with the Seahawks.
Seahawks tight end Colby Parkinson (84)
87 TE Noah Fant is in his fifth season in the NFL and second season with the Seahawks.
Seahawks tight end Noah Fant (87)
89 TE Will Dissly is in his sixth season in the NFL and his sixth season with the Seahawks.
Seahawks tight end Will Dissly (89)
90 DE Jarran Reed is in his eighth season in the NFL and his sixth season with the Seahawks.
Seahawks nose tackle Jarran Reed (90)
93 NT Cameron Young is in his first season in the NFL and his first season with the Seahawks.
Seahawks nose tackle Cameron Young (93)
95 NT Myles Adams is in his fourth season in the NFL and his fourth season with the Seahawks.
Seahawks defensive end Myles Adams (95)
97 Mario Edwards Jr is in his ninth season in the NFL and his first season with the Seahawks.
Seahawks defensive end Mario Edwards Jr. (97)
