Appendectomies are serious matters, and it’s important to not wait until the appendix bursts to get it out of your body.

Fortunately for the Louisville Cardinals, star WR Jaylen Smith is recovering nicely following a surgery to have his appendix removed a couple of weeks ago.

According to Smith, he hopes to be back on the field in time for the Cardinals’ Week 1 matchup against defending-champion Alabama in Orlando on Sept. 1 (via Courier-Journal.com):

“I think I’ll be back,” Smith said Saturday at his team’s annual media day. “That’d be well over four weeks after the surgery. … Everybody’s body reacts different to it, and I feel like I’m pretty good about stuff like that.”

Smith emerged as a star last season, recording 60 catches for 980 yards and seven touchdowns, leading the Cardinals in receptions and yards.

He won’t have star QB Lamar Jackson throwing him the ball anymore, but Alabama defenders will still have to know where he’s at on every snap if he’s healthy enough to go in a couple of weeks.