Jaxon Smith-Njigba has seen enough of Cooper Kupp in Seattle to know the Seahawks aren’t just getting a receiver.
They’re getting another voice in the room.
Smith-Njigba described Kupp as “like having an extra coach out there,” a line that says plenty about how the veteran has fit into Seattle’s offense. Kupp is entering his second season with the Seahawks after building a decorated career with the Los Angeles Rams over the previous eight years, and even with his role changed from the days when he was the focal point of an offense, his influence hasn’t gone anywhere.
“He [Kupp] brings a high level of confidence and a high level of learning and understanding what we want to do and what the defense is trying to do,” Smith-Njigba said, via the team’s official website. “Like I said before, it’s like having an extra coach out there.
Everybody trusts him. He’s our leader in the receiving room and on the team.
If you follow him, you’re doing something right. You’re good.”
That’s the kind of respect Kupp has earned. He may not be asked to pile up the same numbers he once did in Los Angeles, and he isn’t Seattle’s top target, but he remains a major piece for Sam Darnold and a steady No. 2 option in the passing game.
Smith-Njigba and Kupp are also an interesting pair from a production standpoint. Between them, they sit in the top 10 among wide receivers for single-season receiving yards, with Kupp second behind Detroit Lions legend Calvin Johnson and Smith-Njigba eighth.
For Seattle, Kupp’s value goes well beyond the stat sheet. The Seahawks already lean on veteran leadership from players such as DeMarcus Lawrence, Ernest Jones IV, Leonard Williams, and Darnold, and Kupp has become part of that same foundation. The offense benefits from it, the wide receiver room benefits from it, and Smith-Njigba clearly benefits from having a veteran he can trust and follow.
The Seahawks didn’t move on from Kupp this offseason, despite rumors suggesting they might, and that decision looks even more important now. How long he stays in Seattle is a question for later. Right now, he’s a central piece of what they’re building.
In Other News...
Seahawks Suddenly Have A Kicking Problem As Milroe Makes His Case
The preseason tie with Kansas City left Seattle with a little of everything to sort through, but the biggest late-game swing came on Jason Myers missed 52-yard field goal as time expired. The Seahawks had a chance to walk off with a win, only to watch the kick drift away after a game that also featured some encouraging signs on offense and defense, including a debut interception from defensive back Diggs.
Jalen Milroe was one of the nights bright spots, showing the kind of poise and playmaking that can keep him in the conversation after completing 16 of 26 passes for 223 yards and a touchdown. Jacardia Wright, meanwhile, had a quieter night, and Myers continued struggles will linger as Seattle evaluates its special teams heading into the rest of the preseason. [Read more 🡒]
Seahawks Backfield Suddenly Has A Bigger Zach Charbonnet Problem
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For now, the Seahawks are preparing to lean on other options at running back, with rookie Jadarian Price and George Holani expected to see larger roles if Charbonnet stays out. The club has already been bracing for him to miss at least the first half of the season, so the real question is no longer whether Seattle can plan around the absence, but how long it will have to do so before Charbonnet is ready to rejoin the mix. [Read more 🡒]
Seahawks Defense Looks Elite But One Position Still Demands Attention
Seattles defense has looked the part of a unit built to carry real weight this season, with the front and linebacker groups standing out as clear strengths and the coaching staff drawing praise for getting the most out of the roster. The Seahawks have shown they can mix physicality with speed, and the overall structure has them right there with Houston among the leagues best defenses.
Even so, there is still a spot on the depth chart that deserves a closer look, especially with some older pieces in the mix and the usual questions about how much can be asked of rising players over a long season. Development remains part of the story for contributors like Derick Hall and Julian Neal, but Seattles next defensive challenge is making sure one vulnerable area does not become the thing that drags down an otherwise elite-looking group. [Read more 🡒]