Seahawks’ receiver issues: DK Metcalf, Tyler Lockett hurting, Jaxon Smith-Njigba soaring
Young Jaxon Smith-Njigba is emerging.
The Seahawks’ two others, sage wide receivers are hurting.
DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett missed practice Wednesday, four days before the first-place Seahawks (6-5) play at the New York Jets (3-8).
Metcalf has a new shoulder issue. He missed two games early this month with a sprained medial collateral ligament in his knee. He caught a key pass from Geno Smith on third down with 6 minutes remaining in Seattle’s game against Arizona last weekend. The 18-yard gain off Smith darting to his left then right away from two potential sacks and Metcalf’s improvisational route to open space in the middle of the field extended a drive to Jason Myers’ field goal that clinched a 16-6 win that has Seattle atop the NFC West entering December.
Lockett has been playing through pain recently. He was last on a practice participation/injury report for a knee issue a month ago, before Seattle’s win at Atlanta. Lockett had four catches for 45 yards in that game.
Lockett has been the third of the top-three receiving options for Smith lately. He has eight total catches over the last four games. That’s his fewest over a four-game span since Smith became Seattle’s quarterback before the 2022 season.
It’s Lockett’s fewest catches over four games since November into December 2019, with Russell Wilson as his quarterback. Lockett’s fifth game after that relative dry spell he had eight receptions for 120 yards and a touchdown Dec. 15, 2019, in Seattle’s 30-24 home win over Carolina.
Smith-Njigba has been flying lately. The first-round draft choice in 2023 from Ohio State had a career-high 180 yards receiving early this month in the Seahawks’ overtime loss to the Los Angeles Rams.
Over the last three games he has 367 yards. That’s the second-most by a receiver in Seattle’s franchise history. Only Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee Steve Largent has had more yards receiving over a three-game span in a season.
Smith-Njigba had a 46-yard catch and run on a tunnel screen inside against Arizona. Smith-Njigba and Smith after the game called that a “perfect” play call by offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb, against Arizona’s linebacker blitz. Smith-Njigba had no one in the middle of the field as he ran into the red zone. The play ignited Seattle’s offense to its first score of the game late in the first half.
“It was perfect. Coach Grubb made a great call,” Smith-Njigba said.
“He’s been putting me in those positions a lot.”
Uchenna Nwosu back practicing
The Seahawks designated outside linebacker Uchenna Nwosu to practice off injured reserve. Wednesday was his first practice since he injured his thigh Oct. 6 in Seattle’s home loss to the New York Giants.
Coach Mike Macdonald has said Nwosu won’t play Sunday at the Jets, and that the team is assessing how he fares in these first practices back off IR.
“This is a ramp portion. (Wednesday) he’ll be limited, and we’ll go from there,” Macdonald said.
Nwosu has played only 20 snaps on defense this season. He was on injured reserve to begin the season through the first four games. That was from spraining his knee while getting cut blocked in it by Cleveland guard Wyatt Teller in the final preseason game Aug. 24.
This story was originally published November 27, 2024 at 4:30 PM.
