Jaxon Smith-Njigba Is Turning Doubt Into Dominance in Seattle
Jaxon Smith-Njigba isn’t just having a breakout season-he’s rewriting expectations in real time. The third-year wideout has emerged as the NFL’s leading receiver with 1,637 yards, and with two games left on the schedule, he’s within striking distance of Calvin Johnson’s single-season record of 1,964 yards set back in 2012.
That’s not a stat you stumble into. That’s the result of relentless work, elite talent, and a mindset built for the spotlight.
And make no mistake-JSN expects this from himself.
“I kinda live by my expectations being higher than anybody can expect,” Smith-Njigba said during a Tuesday appearance on The Huddle on Seattle Sports. “That’s what’s gotten me here-just to have those crazy dreams and goals and really chase after them.”
Those goals are now playing out on the biggest stage. To break Megatron’s record, JSN would need to average just over 163 yards per game the rest of the way-right around his season-high of 167 yards in a single outing.
It’s a tall order, sure. But JSN doesn’t deal in limitations.
He deals in proving people wrong.
When asked if he ever hears things said about his game that he flat-out disagrees with, Smith-Njigba didn’t hesitate.
“Yeah, no, all the time. All the time. All the time,” he repeated with a grin.
And he’s not just brushing it off-he’s using it.
“Honestly, any limitation I think that’s put on me is not true,” he said. “I honestly feel like I can do almost everything - and I can continue to grow at everything, of course.
But I feel like I can do everything on the field. That’s what I work on… jump ball, back shoulder, slant, fade, outside, inside, blocking-whatever it is, I’m trying to complete my whole game.
And I do take offense to that. It does light a little something in me to go prove that.”
That chip on his shoulder? It’s become a driving force behind one of the most complete receiving seasons we’ve seen in recent memory.
Coming into 2025, there were legitimate questions surrounding Smith-Njigba’s ability to take over as WR1 following DK Metcalf’s departure to Pittsburgh. On top of that, some wondered whether his game would overlap too much with veteran Cooper Kupp, who joined Seattle in the offseason. Both were seen as slot-first receivers, and there was skepticism about how that would translate in a more featured role.
JSN has answered those questions with authority. He’s not just producing-he’s doing it consistently, even as defenses zero in on him.
He’s been held under 90 yards just twice this season. After a quiet 23-yard outing in Week 13 against Minnesota, he bounced back with 92 yards against Atlanta, 113 against Indianapolis, and 96 against the Rams.
That’s not just resilience-it’s next-level adaptability.
So how does he keep getting open, even with defenses game-planning around him?
“Going across the field-I don’t know if it’s my body shape or something, but I just feel like nobody can run with me,” Smith-Njigba said. “I don’t know what it is, but I feel like I can just run away from guys.”
That separation ability has become his calling card. And he’s quick to credit the offseason grind and his trainers for helping him sharpen that edge.
This is what happens when talent meets tireless preparation. Smith-Njigba isn’t just filling a role-he’s redefining what Seattle’s offense looks like post-DK. Quarterback Sam Darnold has found a go-to weapon who can win at every level of the field, and the Seahawks have a legitimate star on their hands-one who’s not just chasing records, but setting a new standard for what a WR1 can be.
If you’re still doubting Jaxon Smith-Njigba, you haven’t been paying attention.