The Seattle Seahawks have cleared wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba to play Thursday night against the Denver Broncos after he fully participated in Wednesday’s practice.
Smith-Njigba had been limited earlier in the week with an ankle injury suffered in Seattle’s loss to the San Francisco 49ers. He carries no game designation, confirming he is available.
Head coach Mike Macdonald said Smith-Njigba and defensive tackle Leonard Williams are ready to play. Williams also has no game designation despite an ankle issue, giving Seattle two contributors for a short-week road game.
Smith-Njigba’s availability matters after the Seahawks fell 32-29 to San Francisco on Sunday. Seattle will need its leading receiver to help quarterback Sam Darnold sustain drives against a Denver defense missing key pieces.
The Broncos ruled out cornerback Patrick Surtain II with an ankle injury, not a concussion as some early speculation suggested. Starting safety Talanoa Hufanga is also out with an ankle injury, while cornerback Riley Moss is questionable because of a rib injury.
Those absences could create opportunities for Seattle’s passing game, although Smith-Njigba’s clearance does not guarantee a workload. His route-running and yards-after-catch ability will be valuable against Denver’s reshuffled secondary.
Seattle will still be without linebacker Drake Thomas, who injured his ankle against the 49ers, and linebacker Chazz Surratt, sidelined with a calf injury. Running back Zach Charbonnet also remains unavailable while recovering from a torn ACL.
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The Seahawks and Broncos both enter Thursday at 3-2, making the matchup a chance to gain ground in their divisions. Seattle trails unbeaten San Francisco in the NFC West, while Denver is chasing Kansas City in the AFC West.
Smith-Njigba’s full practice is a welcome development for Macdonald. After two limited sessions, the receiver is cleared for prime time, allowing Seattle to focus on its game plan rather than his availability.
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