The Seahawks were left facing the possibility of being without rookie wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba for the season opener with the Rams when he broke a bone in his wrist in the second preseason game.

Such concern is now a thing of the past. 

Having returned to practice last week following wrist surgery, the 20th overall pick in the 2023 draft is expected to be in the lineup when Seattle hosts Los Angeles at Lumen Field on Sunday, according to head coach Pete Carroll.

Carroll told reporters of Smith-Njigba's wrist: "He hasn't said a peep about it. Not even nothing. He's fine. It's been a remarkable mentality that he's brought to it and it's better than most guys that you see and he's not hesitating to do everything throughout the game plan and the preparation and all of that."

With the former Ohio State star ready to make his regular-season debut after delivering some enticing splash plays in preseason, the Seahawks are set to get a first regular-season look at a receiver trio that has the potential to be the best in the NFL.

Smith-Njigba, poised to be the Seahawks' starting slot receiver, will line up alongside DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett, who last season both went over 1,000 yards as they thrived with Geno Smith unexpectedly emerging as a Comeback Player of the Year at quarterback.

What Smith-Njigba gives the Seahawks is a dynamic option from the inside having displayed hugely promising route-running acumen, catch-point prowess and an ability to make things happen after the catch during his college career with the Buckeyes.

Seattle desperately needs that additional threat from the slot if its offense is to take another step forward in 2023. Last season, per Sports Info Solutions, the Seahawks ranked 26th in total Expected Points Added when targeting the slot.

Smith-Njigba should give them that dynamism from the slot and open the middle of the field for Smith to allow him to greatly increase the Seahawks' efficiency from the 11 personnel looks they ran on 55 percent of their offensive snaps last season.

With Smith-Njigba potentially forcing defenses to stay in the two-high safety looks that Smith shredded last season — he was seventh in Expected Points Added per play against two-high coverages — and Metcalf and Lockett furthering their rapport with Seattle's starting quarterback, all the signs point to this trio raising the ceiling of an offense that was unexpectedly potent in 2022. Should that happen, the Seahawks' passing game could lift Seattle from playoff team to legitimate contender in the NFC.

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