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.
In Other News...
Seahawks Suddenly Have Two Roster Battles Fans Can't Ignore
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Seahawks Just Made A Special Teams Move That Could Matter Fast
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To make room, Seattle released running back and kick returner Velus Jones Jr., a move that underscores how tightly the roster is being managed heading into the next matchup. Charles now gets a chance to factor in right away, and the timing suggests the Seahawks want a fresh look on special teams as soon as possible. [Read more 🡒]
Seahawks Handed The 49ers A TD With One Brutal Halftime Decision
A late-second-quarter situation turned into a swing play in Seattles Week 5 matchup with San Francisco, and it all started with a decision deep in Seahawks territory. With only 18 seconds left before halftime and no timeouts to work with, Seattle chose to run a play from its own four-yard line rather than simply drain the clock and head to the locker room.
George Holani was on the wrong end of the exchange, and the result was a devastating touchdown for the 49ers that changed the feel of the game in an instant. Seattle did manage to battle back and eventually grab the lead later on, but the turnover stood out as one of those halftime moments that can linger long after the final score is forgotten. [Read more 🡒]