Ohio State expects star WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba to play Week 3 vs. Toledo

The No. 3-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes are 2-0 and already have an impressive win under their belts. OSU beat No. 5 Notre Dame, 21-10, to start the season.

It was an impressive win for Ryan Day and the Buckeyes, but they did suffer a loss on the injury front.

Superstar junior wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njiba went out early in the game with a hamstring injury and didn't return. He warmed up for Ohio State's Week 2 win over Arkansas State but didn't play.

Heading into a Week 3 game against Toledo, it sounds like Smith-Njigba's recovery will progress one more step. In fact, Day told the media that he expects the receiver from Rockwall, Texas, to suit up and play.

"He's further along than he was at this point last week," Day said, according to ESPN. "We're going to expect him to play this weekend, we'll see how this week goes, but we're going to only put him in the game if we feel 100% sure that he's ready to roll."

It's worth noting that Day did leave the door open for Smith-Njigba to sit out if he's not "ready to roll," but it does sound promising for the young wideout. Also keep in mind that Toledo is probably not all that big of a threat to OSU, so Smith-Njigba could end up getting some playing time without having to stress his hamstring over the course of a full game.

Anything can happen in college football, though, so it will be interesting to see how this matchup develops.

Smith-Njiba caught just two passes for three yards in the opener before getting injured. He caught 95 for 1,606 yards and nine touchdowns last season for the Buckeyes.