Jaxon Smith-Njigba has already climbed into the conversation as one of the NFL’s top wide receivers, and the Seattle Seahawks star recently got a nod from someone he once studied from afar.
After training camp, Smith-Njigba was asked by Hawk Blogger’s Brian Nemhauser what kind of receiver he wanted to be. JSN said he didn’t view himself as just one type of player, but pointed to the versatility he admired in Larry Fitzgerald of the Arizona Cardinals, Antonio Bryant of the Pittsburgh Steelers, and Dez Bryant of the Dallas Cowboys.
Nemhauser shared Smith-Njigba’s answer on X, and Dez Bryant noticed. The former Cowboys standout responded with a simple message of support: "Love and respect always for JSN!"
That kind of reaction makes sense in a league where wideouts tend to recognize the grind in each other’s game. Smith-Njigba may have grown up watching Bryant and learning from what he brought to the position, but Bryant also understands the work it takes to become a difference-maker on Sundays.
Seattle also has another experienced voice in its receiver room in Cooper Kupp, who spent years as a star for the Los Angeles Rams before injuries and inconsistency became part of his story. That gives Smith-Njigba another veteran perspective to lean on.
Smith-Njigba dealt with an ankle issue in the Super Bowl, which limited his production. Still, Seattle was so far ahead for much of the game that it didn’t need him to carry the load the way he had during much of the season.
The injury doesn’t change the bigger picture. What keeps Smith-Njigba dangerous for the Seahawks is the same trait he said he values most: versatility.
He can work from the slot or outside, and there’s a sense he may have even more ways to be used that Seattle hasn’t shown yet. Maybe that includes lining up at running back.
And while Smith-Njigba once looked up to Dez Bryant, he’s now doing things that even Bryant didn’t do.
In Other News...
Seahawks Camp Is Quietly Shaping Two Huge Week 1 Concerns
The early tone around Seahawks camp has been more encouraging than dramatic, which is exactly what a team with a lot of moving parts needs in late summer. Rashid Shaheeds development has been one of the brighter notes, and the arrival of new offensive coordinator Brian Fleury is helping preserve some continuity while the offense settles in. On the other side of the ball, Uchenna Nwosu, Derick Hall and Dante Fowler have all put together solid offseasons, and there is a real sense that younger defenders such as Byron Murphy II and Drake Thomas are positioned to take meaningful steps.
What makes the next few weeks interesting is how much of the roster still feels like it is being sorted out in real time. The secondary has opened up competition after recent departures, and rookies Bud Clark and Julian Neal are among the players trying to carve out roles. Seattle is also keeping a close eye on injured players like Zach Charbonnet, which adds another layer to a camp that has been productive without yet answering all of its biggest questions. [Read more 🡒]
Seahawks Camp Is Already Revealing A Backfield Pecking Order
Training camp is already giving the Seahawks a clearer look at their backfield hierarchy, and the early competition is centered on Emmanuel Wilson, George Holani and Jadarian Price. With Seattle leaning into a running backs-by-committee approach, the first few practices have done more to sort out the top of the depth chart than to settle it, which is exactly why the battle at the position has become one of the more closely watched parts of camp.
The bigger question now is how the workload will be divided once the roster gets closer to full strength. Charbonnets return is still pending, and his presence could change the shape of the rotation just as the contenders for the RB1 and RB2 roles are trying to separate themselves. For now, the Seahawks are getting an early read on who can handle the most responsibility, even if the final answer is still waiting on another piece of the puzzle. [Read more 🡒]
Seahawks Cut Short Another Backfield Hope Fans Wanted To See
Kenny McIntoshs time with the Seahawks has been defined more by what never quite got off the ground than by any extended chance to prove himself. A 2023 seventh-round pick, he came into the league with some hope attached, but injuries kept interrupting the conversation, including a knee issue and an ACL tear that limited his playing time and slowed his progress.
Seattles backfield picture keeps moving without him, with Jadarian Price, George Holani, Emanuel Wilson and Zach Charbonnet in the mix when healthy. For a team that has spent the offseason sorting out depth behind its top options, McIntoshs absence is another reminder of how quickly the running back room can change, and how hard it can be for a young player to carve out a role before the next wave arrives. [Read more 🡒]