Seahawks injury updates: Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Jamal Adams

Head coach Pete Carroll gave updates on two injured Seahawks on Thursday.
Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports
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The Seattle Seahawks activated safety Jamal Adams off the PUP list on Thursday. But while he cannot go back on the list, we also do not know when he will play. The same goes for receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba who had surgery on his broken wrist this week.

On Thursday, the Seahawks announced that Adams had passed his physical so he was cleared to move forward with playing the game of football. However, that doesn't mean the team will expect him to play right away. In fact, head coach Pete Carroll said the "pressure does not exist" on expecting Jamal Adams to be ready to play Week 1. Or Week 2 for that matter.

According to Carroll, "I don’t care [when] it is. When he gets back, I just want him to feel right, confident, and believe in the process that got him here. We’re not going to rush him at all." So while Adams will start on the active 53-man roster, just expect him to be listed as inactive for quite some time.

Seahawks coach Pete Carroll gave updates on injury-statuses Thursday

Adams was injured in Week 1 of 2022 against the Denver Broncos. He has been oft-injured throughout his time with Seattle. This started in 2020 after the team traded for him. Adams has also seen linebacker Jordyn Brooks come back extremely quickly from a knee injury late in 2022. Brooks is expected to play Week 1.

Adams currently will do walk-throughs, but on Thursday he didn't go between the lines on the field. Seattle will, and should, be extra cautious with him. Let's just hope he plays most of the season.

As for rookie receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Carroll said his wrist surgery this week "went great", but there is also no timeline for his return. Initially, Carroll had placed a timeline on Smith-Njigba's return as 2-3 weeks. This meant he might be able to return by Week 1, but that now seems unlikely.

Carroll said that Smith-Njigba's surgery was "elaborate" for such a small crack in the bone. So, take that for what it is worth.

Finally, Smith-Njigba's fellow rookie, Devon Witherspoon, is expected to be to full practice by next week. He could be ready for Week 1. But if he starts in the slot, he will be going up against the Los Angeles Rams and Cooper Kupp. That doesn't sound fun.

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