Ohio State coach Ryan Day updates WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba's potential return

Jaxon Smith-Njigba's return this year is in doubt after Ryan Day discussed the star wide receiver on Thursday.

"I wouldn't say 'expecting,'" Day said when asked about Smith-Njigba's status for the rest of the season, per On3. "I would probably say 'hoping.' But no update at this point."

Ohio State (10-0, 7-0 in Big Ten) is a week away from its showdown with rival Michigan (10-0, 7-0 in Big Ten) and according to coach Day, the Buckeyes are bracing to be without a top weapon for Heisman Trophy candidate C.J. Stroud.

The Buckeyes have been forced to get by without Smith-Njigba (hamstring) for the majority of the season. He's suited up in three games and tallied five receptions for 43 yards.

He burst onto the scene during his sophomore season a year ago with 95 receptions for 1,606 yards and nine touchdowns. In a historic Rose Bowl performance, Smith-Njigba had 15 receptions for a bowl-record 347 yards and three touchdowns.

Per a CBS Sports draft profile on Smith-Njigba in Sep. 2022, he ranks as the No. 2 WR prospect in the draft and 11th overall.

He would make life easier for Stroud and the Buckeyes' offense, but they haven't found much difficulty in producing on that side of the ball this season without him. Ohio State averages 46.8 points and 294 yards passing.

Stroud is 186-of-277 (67.1 percent) for 2,750 yards and 34 touchdowns and four interceptions. Sophomore wide receivers Emeka Egbuka and Marvin Harrison Jr. emerged in Smith-Njigba's absence and will likely need to continue to come up big if the Buckeyes are to win their first national championship since Jan. 2015.

Harrison Jr. leads the team in receptions (60), receiving yards (969) and touchdown receptions (11). Egbuka is second with 51 receptions for 832 yards and eight touchdowns.