Seahawks' Foot Scanning Helped Jaxon Smith-Njigba Overcome Hamstring Issues

The team's equipment director explains how custom fittings have benefited the wide receiver's health.

Apr. 17, 2026 at 11:37pm

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A cubist, geometric illustration depicting a football player's body and equipment broken down into sharp, overlapping planes of navy blue, lime green, and metallic silver, conveying the technical precision and customization of the player's gear.Advanced equipment customization has helped the Seahawks keep star receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba healthy and on the field.Seattle Today

Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba struggled with hamstring problems during his final season at Ohio State, but the team's advanced foot scanning technology helped identify the issue and provide a solution when he joined the NFL. The Seahawks' equipment director says the custom fittings, including shoes, helmets, and shoulder pads, have been crucial in keeping Smith-Njigba healthy and on the field for all 51 possible games in his first three pro seasons.

Why it matters

The Seahawks' proactive approach to player health and equipment customization has given them an edge in keeping key offensive weapons like Smith-Njigba available and productive. As more teams explore advanced technologies to optimize player performance and durability, the Seahawks' pioneering work in this area could provide a model for the rest of the league.

The details

When Jaxon Smith-Njigba joined the Seahawks as a first-round pick in 2023, the team's equipment staff discovered through foot scanning that he was actually wearing shoes a size and a half too large. This discovery helped explain the hamstring issues he had faced in college. The Seahawks then provided Smith-Njigba with properly fitted shoes, as well as custom-scanned helmets and shoulder pads, which the team's equipment director says has been crucial in keeping the wide receiver healthy and available for all 51 possible games in his first three NFL seasons.

  • Smith-Njigba played only 3 games in his final season at Ohio State due to hamstring issues.
  • The Seahawks did foot scanning on Smith-Njigba when he arrived as a first-round pick in 2023.
  • Smith-Njigba has played all 51 possible games in his three NFL seasons, as well as all three playoff games in 2025.

The players

Jaxon Smith-Njigba

A wide receiver for the Seattle Seahawks who struggled with hamstring problems in college but has remained healthy in the NFL thanks to the team's advanced equipment customization.

Erik Kennedy

The director of equipment for the Seattle Seahawks, who oversees the team's efforts to provide custom-fitted gear for players.

John Schneider

The general manager of the Seattle Seahawks, who has supported the team's investment in advanced equipment technology.

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What they’re saying

“'You're always trying to find little edges that can help players. Let's just say Jaxon Smith-Njigba, you were talking him about in college, he was wearing a size 12, had hamstring issues and things like that. Gets here, he's a 10 1/2. . . . It's helped him, right? He hasn't missed time and done things like that. That helps build the trust for us with the players.'”

— Erik Kennedy, Director of Equipment, Seattle Seahawks

“'What we get into is the helmet, to protect the players, everything should be custom, right? We've gotten to the point we believe everything's custom, and John and those guys and the ownership and everybody's afforded us the opportunity to go out and chase and do those things where wearing the top helmets, wearing custom shoulder pads that are scanned to the body, scanning the feet, like getting to the point where you're basically scanning everything to fit the person, and then having the crew to be able to do it. There's five of us full-time guys that do it.'”

— Erik Kennedy, Director of Equipment, Seattle Seahawks

What’s next

The Seahawks plan to continue their focus on customized equipment and technology-driven solutions to help keep their players healthy and performing at a high level.

The takeaway

The Seahawks' proactive approach to player health and equipment customization has given them a competitive edge, and their pioneering work in this area could serve as a model for the rest of the NFL as more teams explore advanced technologies to optimize player performance and durability.