ESPN’s Todd McShay is slammed by Ohio State star Jaxon Smith-Njigba’s family over ‘injury’ report

By James On Dec 10, 2022

ESPN’s Todd McShay is facing criticism from the family of Ohio State wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba for suggesting the NFL prospect was putting his career aspirations ahead of the upcoming Buckeyes College Football Playoff semifinal game against Georgia.

Smith-Njigba announced earlier this week that he would not play in the all-important game against the Bulldogs on December 31 as he continues to rehab from a leg injury and prepare for the 2023 NFL draft. AP was injured in the Buckeyes’ opener against Notre Dame and played in only two other games. Details about the severity of his injury were not released during the season.

On Monday, McShay claimed NFL scouts told him Smith-Njigba is “healthy enough to play and protecting himself for the draft,” only to be rebuked by the receiver’s family, including his older brother Canaan, an outfielder for the Pittsburgh Pirates.

ESPN’s Todd McShay is facing criticism from the family of Ohio State receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba for suggesting the NFL prospect was putting his career aspirations ahead of the Buckeyes’ upcoming college football playoff semifinal game. against Georgia.

“If I was healthy I would be playing,” Canaan tweeted. ‘Like what?? We don’t protect our ‘Eraser’, they know who JSN is when he is healthy. Sorry @McShay13 and you are so wrong to be on TV making these false claims.

Smith-Njigba’s father, Maada, also chimed in: ‘Being [with] my son yesterday for his first day of rehab and seeing his limitations for myself gave me peace [with] the choice of our families (sic) for my son to be healthy. cheering him up [to] gambling would be selfish and abusive. I’m at peace [because] I know it’s in the right hands. [for] Recovery.’

McShay not only reported that NFL scouts believe Smith-Njigba is healthy, but went on to say that teams around the league look down on players who skip bowling games to preserve their draft stock.

Pittsburgh Pirates center fielder Canaan Smith-Njigba (pictured) is Jaxon’s older brother

Pirates center fielder Canaan Smith-Njigba slammed ESPN Draft insider over report

Smith-Njigba’s father, Maada, also weighed in and defended the family’s decision.

“I have news for all the prospects: NFL teams know this,” McShay said Monday. They know what you had for lunch last Thursday. They will know if you are healthy or not. And if you’re healthy enough to play, you need to be out there with your teammates and play.

‘I’m not saying it’s going to hurt his draft stock… but the difference is with Jaxon Smith-Njigba, he’s like a first-round finisher, early in the second. He’s a great college player, a great slot receiver. But he has some drops, he doesn’t have exceptional size, he doesn’t have exceptional speed. There were a few things coming up in the year, after the great season that he had, scouts noted that they said, ‘I don’t think he’s a top-15, top-20 insurance player.’

“Now the fact that he’s not playing is certainly not going to help those odds.”

Smith-Njigba announced his decision to enter the NFL draft early Monday, stressing that he tried to play but wasn’t healthy enough.

“I did my best to put myself in a condition to return to the field multiple times this year,” Smith-Njigba wrote. He wanted it as much, if not more, than anyone else. After consultation with my doctors, it has been determined that I will not be able to participate in the playoffs.

Smith-Njigba set an all-time bowl game record with 347 receiving yards in the 2022 Rose Bowl win over Utah. He also broke the Rose Bowl record with 15 receptions and tied the game high with three touchdowns.

Ohio State coach Ryan Day did not criticize Smith-Njigba for his decision to sit out of the playoff game.

“I want to thank Jaxon for everything he’s done for our Ohio State program,” Ohio State coach Ryan Day said. “He has made a huge impact here in Columbus, on and off the field, in a relatively short period of time. We all know he has a very bright future ahead of him and we’re all rooting for him as he moves forward in his career.”

The Buckeyes play Georgia in a CPF semifinal in the Peach Bowl on December 31. Receivers Marvin Harrison Jr. (1,157 yards, 12 TDs) and Emeka Egbuka (1,039 yards, nine TDs) took on larger roles in the passing game with Smith-Njigba sidelined. .

The junior from Rockwall, Texas, set 2021 school records for receptions (95) and receiving yards (1,606). His yardage total broke a 20-year-old Big Ten Conference record.

Smith-Njigba announced his decision to enter the NFL draft early Monday, stressing that he tried to play but wasn’t healthy enough.