Jaxon Smith-Njigba remains limited with an ankle injury as the Seattle Seahawks prepare for Thursday night’s matchup against the Denver Broncos. The wide receiver received the same practice designation for a second consecutive day, leaving his availability worth monitoring ahead of the Week 6 game.
Seattle listed Smith-Njigba as a limited participant on its estimated Monday and Tuesday injury reports. The Seahawks did not hold full practices on either day because of their short turnaround following Sunday’s loss to the San Francisco 49ers.
According to Bob Condotta of The Seattle Times, Smith-Njigba’s status remained unchanged on Tuesday. The report also listed linebacker Drake Thomas as a nonparticipant for a second straight day because of an ankle injury.
Smith-Njigba’s availability matters because he has been Seattle’s leading receiving threat this season. Through five games, he has recorded 37 receptions for 583 yards and seven touchdowns, leading the NFL in receiving yards entering Week 6. He also recorded 102 receiving yards and a touchdown against San Francisco despite dealing with the ankle issue.
The Seahawks fell to 3-2 after losing 32-29 to the 49ers on Sunday. They now face another 3-2 team in Denver, with both clubs looking to improve their position early in the season. Seattle ranks second in the NFC West behind San Francisco, while the Broncos sit second in the AFC West behind Kansas City.
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Smith-Njigba is not the only Seattle player dealing with an injury ahead of Thursday’s game. Defensive tackle Leonard Williams also remained limited with an ankle injury, while Thomas and linebacker Chazz Surratt were listed as nonparticipants. Running back Zach Charbonnet and quarterback Drew Lock were also limited on Tuesday’s estimated report.
The Seahawks will need their final injury designations to clarify Smith-Njigba’s status for the Denver matchup. His consecutive limited listings do not confirm that he will miss the game, but Seattle’s short preparation window leaves little time before kickoff.
Seattle visits Denver on Thursday, Oct. 15, at 8:15 p.m. ET. The teams’ final injury reports should provide a clearer indication of whether Smith-Njigba will be available for the contest.
