Jaxon Smith-Njigba is doing something no receiver in NFL history has ever done before, and he’s doing it while Seattle’s offense keeps dragging itself around him.
Through six games, Smith-Njigba has been the engine of the Seahawks’ attack and, by the numbers, the league’s most productive wideout. He has 49 receptions for 717 yards and seven receiving touchdowns, and he also leads the NFL in yards per touch at 14.7. On top of that, he’s averaging more catches per game and more yards per game than he did in his Offensive Player of the Year season last year.
If he keeps this up, the season will land in record territory. Smith-Njigba is on pace for 2,032 receiving yards, which would make him the first player in NFL history to reach 2,000 in a season and would eclipse Calvin Johnson’s record of 1,964. He’s also tracking toward 139 catches, which would rank fourth all time for a single season, and 20 receiving touchdowns, which would be third all time.
The strange part is that Seattle is still only 3-3.
That record says a lot about the rest of the offense. Starting quarterback Sam Darnold has been excellent only when throwing to Smith-Njigba, while backup Drew Lock also struggled to produce much when Darnold was sidelined for two games. Together, Darnold and Lock are 49-for-66 for 717 yards, seven touchdowns and two interceptions when targeting Smith-Njigba, a 131.9 passer rating.
On every other throw, the numbers fall off fast. Darnold and Lock are a combined 76-for-131 for 738 yards, with four touchdowns and five interceptions, which works out to a 68.2 passer rating.
The run game hasn’t offered much relief either. Seattle has had to deal with Kenneth Walker leaving in free agency after starting last season, and Zach Charbonnet still hasn’t returned from a knee injury.
For now, it’s Smith-Njigba carrying the load as far as he can. He’s already playing like the best receiver in football, and he’s doing it in an offense that badly needs somebody else to step up.
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 🡒]