The Seattle Seahawks left Denver with a 17-14 overtime loss on Thursday night, but Jaxon Smith-Njigba kept doing exactly what he’s been doing all season: piling up production no matter the opponent, no matter the circumstances, no matter who is throwing him the ball.
Smith-Njigba finished with 12 catches for 134 yards in Mile High, another huge night in a season that is quickly turning historic. Through six games, he has already accounted for a record-breaking 35 percent of Seattle’s scrimmage yards this season, according to Doug Clawson of CBS Sports.
That kind of workload has made Smith-Njigba the one steady force in an offense that is still searching for answers. Seattle’s running game was uneven, and Sam Darnold had a rough night, throwing two interceptions.
One of those picks helped set up Denver for the game-winning field goal. But when the Seahawks need a spark, the ball keeps finding No.
At this point, Smith-Njigba looks like the engine driving everything Seattle can trust on offense. He’s not just producing - he’s dominating. Through six games, he has 49 receptions for 717 yards and seven touchdowns, putting him in position for the Triple Crown after the first quarter of the season.
And yet even that level of brilliance wasn’t enough against the Broncos. If the turnovers keep coming, Seattle is learning the hard way that even a massive night from Smith-Njigba can only carry the offense so far.
The Seahawks are now 3-3 and headed back home to get ready for a Week 7 matchup with the Kansas City Chiefs, who are 4-0. Seattle will have a week to sort through how to turn another Jaxon Smith-Njigba masterpiece into a win.
In Other News...
NFL Just Confirmed Seahawks Fans Had Every Right To Be Furious
Late in Seattles matchup with San Francisco, Jaxon Smith-Njigba took a hit from 49ers safety Malik Mustapha that never drew a flag on the field, even though it was later deemed a violation for hitting a defenseless player. The lack of a penalty at the time left Seahawks fans with plenty to gripe about, especially in a game where every late snap carried extra weight.
The NFLs review backed up that frustration, fining Mustapha $6,998 for the play and effectively confirming the missed call. No other players from the game were fined, but for Seattle supporters, the bigger point is hard to miss: the league looked at the same hit and came to the conclusion many in the building already had. [Read more 🡒]
Seahawks Backfield Picture Could Get More Interesting Than Fans Realize
Week 6 is bringing a little more uncertainty to the running back landscape than usual, and it is the kind of wrinkle Seahawks fans can keep an eye on even if the names involved are elsewhere. Quinshon Judkins, Jacory Croskey-Merritt, TreVeyon Henderson, Alvin Kamara and Rico Dowdle are all listed as questionable, with practice participation varying from player to player as teams sort through injuries and workload concerns heading into the weekend.
Jadarian Price adds another layer to the picture, even though he is still on injured reserve for now. His coach said a return could come as early as Week 8, which means the backfield conversation is only getting started in a league where availability can change the depth chart fast. For a Seattle team always watching the market and the ripple effects around it, these are the kinds of updates that can quietly shape what comes next. [Read more 🡒]
Seahawks Have A Pass Protection Problem Fans Cant Ignore
Through six games, the Seahawks offensive line has already become one of the clearest pressure points on the roster, and the latest reminder came in a rough afternoon against Denver. Pro Football Focus charted 26 pressures allowed on quarterback Sam Darnold, who was under duress 27 times overall, a number that underscored just how often the pocket collapsed before plays could fully develop.
It was not just one spot breaking down, either. Charles Cross, Abraham Lucas, Jalen Sundell, Grey Zabel, Christian Haynes and Beau Stephens all had their share of pressures allowed, while George Holani has also had trouble in pass protection. For a team trying to build any kind of offensive rhythm, the issue is no longer isolated enough to shrug off, and it is starting to shape every conversation about how the offense can function going forward. [Read more 🡒]