Jaxon Smith-Njigba is still carrying the Seahawks’ passing game, but Week 3 finally gave Seattle something it hadn’t really shown in the first two games: Sam Darnold spreading the ball around.
Smith-Njigba kept rolling in Sunday’s 33-31 loss to the Washington Commanders, turning in 128 receiving yards and two touchdowns. He’s now scored five of Seattle’s six touchdowns on the season, which tells you just how central he’s been to everything the Seahawks have done offensively.
But this game was bigger than one target soaking up the workload. For the first time this season, the rest of Seattle’s receiving group showed up in a real way. Cooper Kupp, Tory Horton and tight end AJ Barner all had their best games of the young season, and Darnold made sure they were part of the plan.
Kupp entered the day with just 56 combined receiving yards and no touchdowns through two weeks. Horton had been blanked across the board.
Barner had only 21 receiving yards in Seattle’s first two games. On Sunday, all three got involved, and together they accounted for 163 of Darnold’s passing yards.
Darnold finished with 379 passing yards and four touchdowns, though two interceptions took some shine off the outing. Even so, the bigger takeaway was obvious: Seattle’s offense looked far less one-dimensional with him steering it.
That was a major shift from the early part of the season, when Drew Lock was filling in and the Seahawks leaned heavily on Smith-Njigba. With Darnold under center, the ball went elsewhere too, and that matters for an offense that needs more than one reliable outlet.
Seattle also got production from backup running back George Holani, who caught five passes for 48 yards.
The one quiet spot remained Rashid Shaheed, who finished with two catches for 14 yards.
The good news for Seattle is that Kupp, Horton and Barner showed they can contribute when called on. The bigger win was for Darnold, who now has a deeper group of weapons to work with. If he cleans up the turnovers, the Seahawks likely leave Washington with a victory.
In Other News...
Frightening Commanders Injury Vs Seahawks Led To A Serious Medical Update
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Dan Quinn addressed the situation publicly, offering concern and support for Chenal while the Commanders waited for more clarity on the medical side. The encouraging part is that Chenal is expected to make a full recovery, but for now Washington is dealing with the reality of losing a key defender and hoping the road back is a complete one. [Read more 🡒]
Seahawks Just Saw Their Biggest Concern Exposed In First Loss
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What stood out, though, was how the game exposed a defense that had carried Seattle through the early stretch of the season. Washingtons offense moved well enough with Mariota at the controls, and the Seahawks were left chasing points after the Commanders kept finding answers in key moments. For a team that had looked balanced and steady for weeks, this was the kind of loss that forces a closer look at what still needs cleaning up. [Read more 🡒]
Seahawks Already Face A Rashid Shaheed Debate They Did Not Want
Rashid Shaheeds first three games in Seattle have not looked much like the kind of early returns the Seahawks had in mind when they brought him in on a three-year deal. The speed is still there, but the passing-game impact has been light, with limited receptions and targets and some rough early marks from Pro Football Focus that suggest he has not yet found a rhythm in the offense.
For a Seahawks team trying to sort out its receiver usage, that creates an awkward early-season question. If Shaheeds role stays this small, Seattle may have to reconsider how it deploys its wideouts and whether his usage should be adjusted to get more out of a player the club clearly expected to matter more. [Read more 🡒]