Ohio State Expects To Have Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Julian Fleming To Play Against Toledo

"To get those guys back is going to be critical."

Author:
Andrew Lind
Sep 13, 2022 1:44 PM EDT

In this story:

After playing most – if not all – of the last two games without junior wide receivers Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Julian Fleming, Ohio State is expecting to have both back on the field on Saturday against Toledo.

“(Jaxon is) further along than he was at this point last week,” Day said, referring to the hamstring injury Smith-Njigba suffered in the season opener against Notre Dame. “We’re going to expect him to play this weekend. We’ll see how this week goes, but like I said, we’re going to only put him in the game if he’s 100 percent ready to roll.”

While those absences have allowed sophomores Marvin Harrison Jr. and Emeka Egbuka, as well as fifth-year senior Xavier Johnson, to have breakout games, Day acknowledged they’re a different team when Smith-Njigba is available.

“We’ve had to have some other guys step up and figure a few things out, and I think that has been good for the longevity and depth of the offense,” Day said. “We can’t wait to get Jaxon back, but it has allowed an opportunity to get some guys out there and build some packages.”

Of course, the plan coming into the year was to rotate all five wide receivers, but the unexpected injuries to Smith-Njigba and Fleming has led Harrison, Egbuka and Johnson to be stretched thin in terms of reps through the first two games.

“By the time we were in the second quarter, we were down two of those guys, so it was a little bit of a panic there,” Day said. “To get those guys back is going to be critical.”

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