Rashid Shaheed has made his mark as a kick returner before, but on Sunday, he reminded everyone he’s more than just a special teams weapon. In the Seahawks’ 37-9 blowout win over the Falcons, Shaheed delivered the game’s most electric moment-a 100-yard kickoff return touchdown that lit up the stadium. But it was his work as a receiver that may have the biggest implications for Seattle moving forward.
Shaheed’s stat line-four catches for 67 yards-might not jump off the page at first glance. But dig a little deeper, and it’s clear this was a breakout performance. Not only did he notch his highest receiving yardage since being traded to Seattle from New Orleans at the deadline, but he also came through in key moments, converting a pair of crucial third downs that kept drives alive and helped the Seahawks pull away.
Before Sunday, Shaheed had totaled just four receptions for 34 yards in his first four games with Seattle. He was flashing in practice, earning praise from teammates and coaches alike, but hadn’t yet had his moment. That changed against Atlanta.
“He makes plays all the time at practice,” quarterback Sam Darnold said after the game. “He’s been executing at a high level throughout these games ever since he’s gotten here, (but) he just hasn’t had necessarily the opportunities that other guys have had. The fact that he finally got his today was special to see.”
And the timing couldn’t be better. As Seattle eyes its first NFC West crown since 2020, one of the looming questions has been whether they have enough depth behind Jaxon Smith-Njigba to keep pace with the league’s elite offenses.
Smith-Njigba has been nothing short of sensational this season, already setting a franchise record with 1,428 receiving yards through 13 games. He’s accounted for nearly 45% of Seattle’s total receiving yardage-an incredible number, but also a sign of just how much the offense leans on him.
Behind him, the drop-off has been steep. Cooper Kupp, the veteran presence, sits at 473 yards.
Tight end AJ Barner is next with 386. That’s not a ton of production from your No. 2 and No. 3 options, and it’s why the Seahawks went out and got Shaheed in the first place.
They weren’t just hoping for a return specialist-they were betting on his speed to stretch defenses and open things up for Darnold and Smith-Njigba. And on Sunday, that plan finally started to take shape.
Shaheed’s biggest play as a receiver came early in the fourth quarter. Facing a third-and-6, he found space over the middle and hauled in a 33-yard gain that extended a touchdown drive and effectively sealed the game. It was the kind of route that requires timing, trust, and burst-and Shaheed delivered all three.
Earlier, in the third quarter, he converted another third down with a savvy motion route to the sideline, catching a short pass and moving the chains. That drive ended with Smith-Njigba doing what he does best-snagging a 30-yard reception followed by a 28-yard catch-and-run touchdown.
But Shaheed’s presence helped make that possible. His speed demands attention, and when defenses are forced to account for him, it gives Smith-Njigba more room to operate.
“(Rashid) can run every single route and his speed is dangerous, so teams have got to respect that, especially if you’ve got eyes on me or whoever,” Smith-Njigba said. “He’s going to spring open, and when hard work meets opportunity, I know he’s going to shine. You saw a little bit of that today, so the future is bright for him in this offense.”
It’s just one game, but this was exactly the kind of performance the Seahawks were hoping for when they brought Shaheed aboard. If he can continue to build on this momentum, Seattle’s offense gets a whole lot more dangerous-and just in time for the stretch run.