Mike Vrabel didn’t waste any time making it clear what he sees when he looks at Jaxon Smith-Njigba.
With the New England Patriots set to face the Seattle Seahawks on Sept. 9, Vrabel spent part of his Week 1 preview talking up the reigning Offensive Player of the Year - and the matchup could get tricky for New England if Christian Gonzalez isn’t available.
“Just the suddenness, route craft,” Vrabel told the media. “He is smooth.
He can play at different speeds, he plays inside, he runs a full route tree, he is strong at the catch point. But I just think that the savviness and the ability to get in and out of breaks is really impressive.”
That’s a pretty strong scouting report, and it matches what Smith-Njigba showed in his breakout season as Seattle’s top target. After the Seahawks moved on from DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett, the Ohio State product handled the jump and then some, going from a slot specialist to a receiver who could win all over the field.
His numbers tell the story: 119 catches, 1,793 yards and 10 touchdowns.
The Patriots did have an answer for him in the Super Bowl, though. Gonzalez shut Smith-Njigba down, limiting him to four receptions on 10 targets for 26 yards and no touchdowns. It was the lone quiet game of Smith-Njigba’s season.
Now the question is whether New England has that same answer when these teams meet again. Gonzalez’s health and contract situation still leave some uncertainty, and without him, Smith-Njigba’s Week 1 line could look a lot different than it did in the Super Bowl.
In Other News...
DK Metcalf Just Reopened A Seahawks Debate Fans Never Dropped
DK Metcalfs exit from Seattle was never just a roster move, and the way things have played out has only made the old debate louder. He asked the Seahawks for a trade before the 2025 season, landed with the Steelers, and Seattle responded by turning the page with draft-pick compensation and a major contract for Jaxon Smith-Njigba. From the outside, it was the kind of decision that invites instant comparison, especially after the Seahawks went on to win Super Bowl LX while Pittsburghs run ended in the wild-card round.
Metcalf, though, is not treating the result like a reason to revisit his choice. He has said he understands the consequences of asking out and has congratulated his former teammates, even as the Steelers committed to him with a four-year, $132 million extension. For Seattle fans, it keeps the conversation in a familiar place: whether the franchise got the timing right, whether Metcalf got what he wanted, and how much a championship ring changes the hindsight around a trade that was already going to be dissected for years. [Read more 🡒]
Cooper Kupps New Seahawks Partnership Goes Well Beyond Sneakers
Brooks Running has officially stepped into the Seahawks orbit as the teams new Running Partner, and the rollout comes with Cooper Kupp serving as one of three new global ambassadors. The arrangement fits Seattles sports culture neatly enough, but it is aimed at more than branding and sideline visibility. Brooks is tying the partnership to community work across Washington state, with a focus on supporting high school football coaches and athletes through programs such as Coach of the Week and Future Run grants.
The broader push also reaches into girls flag football, where Brooks plans to recognize coaches and players as the sport keeps growing in the region. The company expects to spotlight those efforts at a Seahawks home game, turning what could have been a straightforward endorsement deal into a much wider effort around local football. For Kupp and the Seahawks, it is a partnership built as much on community footing as on what happens on game day. [Read more 🡒]
Seahawks Could Get A Big Backfield Boost Sooner Than Expected
Zach Charbonnets start to the season remains on hold, but theres at least a little more optimism around his recovery than there was when the Seahawks first braced for a long absence. The running back is on the physically unable to perform list after the knee injury he carried out of last season, which means he will miss the first four games, but coach Mike Macdonald said Charbonnet is progressing well and could be back sooner than the December timeframe that had seemed to be the target.
For Seattle, the possibility matters because Charbonnets return would give the backfield a jolt at a point in the season when teams usually start absorbing wear and tear. Still, nothing is locked in yet. He has to pass a physical before the Seahawks can activate him, and with no firm return date in place, the team is left waiting to see whether the encouraging signs turn into an actual midseason comeback. [Read more 🡒]