The Seahawks got a glimpse of Quenton Nelson in Monday night’s 34-17 loss to the Chicago Bears, but the bigger takeaway was what Seattle still doesn’t have. If the front office is serious about making a move before the Nov. 10 deadline, another receiver needs to be on the board.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba kept carrying the offense, finishing with six catches for 118 yards. The problem was everything around him. Seattle’s other wideouts combined for just four receptions and 33 yards, and the absence of Rashid Shaheed, who sat out with a knee injury, only made the shortage more obvious.
Smith-Njigba has been producing at a historic clip to start the season. He entered Monday with an NFL-high 867 receiving yards and was on pace to challenge Calvin Johnson’s 2012 record of 1,964.
But the gap between him and everyone else on the roster has been glaring. No other Seattle receiver had even reached 200 yards entering the game.
That imbalance showed up immediately against Chicago. Smith-Njigba burned the Bears for a 43-yard touchdown, and he accounted for 92 of Sam Darnold’s 100 passing yards in the first half. The only other yards came on catches by Zach Charbonnet and Jadarian Price, which meant no other Seahawks receiver had a reception in the opening 30 minutes.
Chicago tightened things up after halftime and limited Smith-Njigba to two catches for 26 yards. The rest of Seattle’s receivers finally showed up on the stat sheet, but not in a way that changed much. Tory Horton led the group with three catches for 26 yards, and Cooper Kupp had one grab - a seven-yard touchdown.
There were other issues at work, too. Seattle’s offensive line was shaky without Charles Cross, and Darnold had an uneven night, going 17-of-34 for 188 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. Still, the lack of a real threat opposite Smith-Njigba was impossible to ignore, and it should have John Schneider working the phones.
Seattle already made one splash by landing Nelson, and the market should offer more chances to improve the passing game. One name to watch is Josh Downs of the Indianapolis Colts.
With the Colts in a fire sale, Downs has asked for a trade and could be had for a third- or fourth-round pick, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. He would give the Seahawks the kind of intermediate option they’re missing.
If Seattle wants to swing bigger, Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. is there, though the price would be steep. He followed a strong rookie year with 1,282 yards and 10 touchdowns by totaling 58 catches for 824 yards and four touchdowns over the past two seasons, which makes him a riskier bet.
Other possible names include Calvin Ridley of the Tennessee Titans, Rashod Bateman of the Baltimore Ravens, Jerry Jeudy of the Cleveland Browns and Jauan Jennings of the Minnesota Vikings.
At 4-4, Seattle can’t afford to wait around. The Seahawks are 3.5 games behind the San Francisco 49ers, who were on a bye, and while there’s still half a season left, the offense needs more help if they’re going to close that gap. Monday’s loss made the need even clearer.
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Rashid Shaheeds Seahawks Role Just Got Even More Complicated
Rashid Shaheeds arrival in Seattle was supposed to add another layer of speed and versatility to the Seahawks offense, and for stretches this season it has. He has played in seven games, made an impact on special teams and found the end zone once on the ground, but he still has yet to catch a receiving touchdown as the team has worked through how best to deploy him.
Now the picture gets murkier with Shaheed ruled out for the upcoming game against the Chicago Bears because of a knee injury. With coaches and the quarterback already weighing how his role might expand in the offense, the missed opportunity comes at a frustrating time, leaving Seattle to keep sorting out where Shaheed fits once he is healthy enough to return. [Read more 🡒]
Seahawks Just Got A Needed Monday Night Boost In The Backfield
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Seattle will need it against a Chicago defense that has been strengthened by the addition of Jeffery Simmons, which makes the ground game an even more important part of the plan. With Charbonnet and Price both trending back into the mix, the Seahawks suddenly have a better chance to lean on their running backs and create a more balanced offense in a game that could demand it. [Read more 🡒]
Seahawks Face A Bigger Test Than Bears Fans Might Realize
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Chicago, by contrast, enters the game much healthier, with running back Kyle Monangai the only player listed as inactive. The coaching subplot also adds another layer, with Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald going against Bears head coach Ben Johnson in a matchup that should tell a lot about where both teams stand in the early stretch of the season. [Read more 🡒]