Jaxon Smith-Njigba didn’t hide from the moment after Sunday’s loss to the 49ers. He put it on himself.
Late in the fourth quarter of Seattle’s NFC West showdown, Sam Darnold looked his way on a third-down throw, and the pass was there for the taking. Smith-Njigba couldn’t haul it in.
The drop loomed large, and when Cooper Kupp failed to pick up a first down on the next play, Seattle’s chance to win slipped away. San Francisco stayed undefeated, while the Seahawks took their second loss of the season.
Afterward, the first-team All-Pro wideout was blunt about what happened.
“I guess I was thinking too much at that time,” Smith-Njigba said postgame. “Just needed to play free and catch the ball at the end of the day. . . .
I had the chance to catch the ball, so really just catch the ball. Catch the (expletive) football at the end of the day.
I know I’ll make the next one.”
Smith-Njigba has become one of, if not the best wide receiver in the National Football League over the past few seasons, and he remains Darnold’s trusted target when the game gets tight. This time, though, the connection wasn’t there when Seattle needed it most.
The Seahawks won’t have much time to sit with the disappointment. They’re back on the field Thursday night against the Denver Broncos, with kickoff set for 8:15 p.m.
E.T. in Denver. The game will air live on Amazon Prime, with Al Michaels and Kirk Herbstreit on the call.
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