The Seahawks got a useful answer in their 30-23 win over the Chargers: this offense doesn’t have to run through Jaxon Smith-Njigba every single snap to function.
Smith-Njigba was held below 100 receiving yards for the first time this season, finishing 24 yards shy after opening with 122, 155 and 128 in Seattle’s first three games. That kind of streak was never likely to last all year, but plenty of Seahawks fans were probably hoping it would stretch one more week against Los Angeles. It didn’t, and Seattle still walked away with 30 points.
That mattered because one of the early questions around this team was simple: how much can the Seahawks lean on their star wideout before the offense starts to flatten out? Week 4 offered a pretty clear response. Seattle can still score, and still win, when the production comes from somewhere else.
Sam Darnold’s day was uneven. He finished with 168 passing yards and 13 completions, and that kind of outing naturally affects Smith-Njigba’s numbers too.
If Darnold had been sharper, Smith-Njigba might have cleared the century mark again. Instead, the Seahawks found offense in other places.
Emanuel Wilson was the biggest surprise and the biggest difference-maker. He scored twice, once as a rusher and once as a receiver, and led Seattle on the ground with 81 rushing yards.
He also finished second on the team in receiving behind Smith-Njigba with 39 yards. Two months ago, Wilson wasn’t even guaranteed a roster spot, and now he was front and center in a win that mattered.
Rashid Shaheed also delivered his best game of the season, even if the overall numbers were still modest. He was productive when the ball came his way and added a touchdown as a rusher. His 28-yard run to the end zone showed exactly what he can bring when Seattle uses him the right way: burst, agility and speed.
Tory Horton added the other score, hauling in a six-yard touchdown on his only catch of the game.
It wasn’t the kind of explosive afternoon Seattle fans have gotten used to. No pass catcher finished with more than one reception, and nobody besides Smith-Njigba reached 50 receiving yards.
But the broader point was bigger than the box score. Darnold didn’t need to lock onto Smith-Njigba all day to keep the offense moving, even though the All-Pro wideout accounted for a record 36% of all targets last year and has climbed to 39% this season.
Against the Chargers, Darnold targeted him just six times and still got enough out of the rest of the roster to score 30.
That’s the encouraging part for Seattle. The team was able to win with help from multiple playmakers, and it did so on a weekend when the Rams moved to 2-2 and the 49ers stayed undefeated.
At 3-1, the Seahawks now know they have more than one path to victory. Getting the ball to Smith-Njigba is still a strong formula.
It just isn’t the only one.
In Other News...
Seahawks Get Timely Injury Relief As 49ers Enter Sunday Shorthanded
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Leonard Williams Gives Seahawks A Crucial 49ers Injury Test
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Mike Macdonald sounded encouraged that Williams has a real chance to be available for the 49ers matchup, and that kind of update matters this time of year when every practice rep is scrutinized. The weeks injury report still includes several moving parts on both sides, but Williams status is the one Seattle will keep watching most closely as the game approaches. [Read more 🡒]
Seahawks Suddenly Have A Week 5 RB Problem They Can't Ignore
The Seahawks went into the week trying to shore up their backfield, and the plan hit a snag when the teams attempted addition of Joe Mixon fell apart after he failed his physical. Defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald confirmed the signing did not work out, leaving Seattle to keep leaning on Emanuel Wilson and George Holani while the offense waits for more help at running back.
Zach Charbonnets recovery offers some relief on the horizon, with his return expected in the coming weeks, but the current setup leaves the Seahawks with a real Week 5 concern if the rotation has to hold up any longer. For now, the backfield remains thin, and the failed Mixon move only underscores how quickly a depth issue can become something the team cant afford to ignore. [Read more 🡒]