Coming in as a first-round pick, Seattle Seahawks receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba would have wanted to hit the ground running in his first NFL season. But instead, things have been a slow burn.
Part of a Seattle offense that ranks sixth in scoring (27.8 points per game), Smith-Njigba has only 12 catches for 62 yards through the first month of the season.
But despite not featuring as much as many would have envisioned, Seahawks offense coordinator Shane Waldron revealed that Smith-Njigba is doing a good job of letting the game come to him and isn't trying to force things in the hope of getting catches.
"I think Jaxon has done a good job handling it," Waldron said. "He's been under the big spotlight before. He's had success. He knows what it's like. Just waiting for that moment that it works out the right way for him and not taking anything away from his preparation. He's doing everything the right way.”
Of course, there's no need to panic after the first month of Smith-Njigba's career. Naturally, it will take time to transition from college football to the NFL.
The former Ohio State star's best game came against the Detroit Lions, as he caught five passes for 34 yards in the overtime win.
However, in his other three games, he hasn't had more than three catches. That can be hard for a rookie who is a first-round pick and has the expectations that accompany being such a talent.
Some wanted him to show out early and be a focal point of the Seahawks offense, but despite his slow start, Waldron says that he's taking everything in his stride while adding that the rookie has a bright future ahead of him.
“He's got a really good and balanced mindset about it," Waldron said. "I know he's a competitive guy, so like every great receiver, every great skill player in the league, those guys, they want the ball in the hand and be able to impact the game, and we want that for them. We keep working with him, and he'll keep doing a great job. He has a bright and long future ahead of him.”
The Seahawks take on Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals Sunday in what looms as the team's biggest test of the season so far.
Sitting at 3-1, Seattle hasn't done much wrong through the first month, and that's without Smith-Njigba getting going.
What better way for the former Buckeye to announce himself than with a breakout game against an AFC heavyweight in the state he played college ball in?
DK Metcalf stated previously that it's "only a matter of time" before that happens. Perhaps in Week 6, that time has come.
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