Seathle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba continues to soar in Year 2.
Texas coach DeMeco Ryans knew this week they had to slow down JSN. They still couldn’t stop target Sam Darnold from finding space or making a special catch. The Vikings torched Houston on Monday night in a 27-19 victory, completing eight of 14 targets for 123 yards and a touchdown.
Teammate Cooper Kupp, a former three-time winner, knows a thing or two about taking a defense’s best shot and still producing.
“Yeah, it’s unusual what he’s been able to do in terms of productivity,” Kupp said on the team’s official website. “It’s really tough. It’s tough. It takes a lot of work to be able to do that. I think that’s the standard. Whatever it is, man, whenever the number is called, you want to make the play. That’s our room in general. When your number is called, go out and make the play. He’s done it really well.”
Smith-Njigba has five games with 100-plus receiving yards in 2025, the most in the NFL. After just seven weeks, that number is tied for second most in a season in Seahawks history – Steve Largent had six 100-plus yard games in 1979, according to NFL Research.
On Monday night, JSN became the youngest player (age 23) in the Super Bowl era to pass for 75-plus yards in each of his first seven games of the season. Smith-Njigba and Hall of Famer Isaac Bruce are the only players with 800 yards in the first seven games of a season 24 or younger (during the Super Bowl season).
“He’s a Seahawk, man, the way he works, his determination, the pride he takes in his job,” coach Mike Macdonald said. “I’ll tell you, the guy’s a great teammate. They’re great. I know everybody’s out there rooting for him. He fights like crazy for his teammates, too. But he’s obviously doing great. What did he do today? That’s pretty good.”
We mentioned last week that JSN were a clear first-team pick early this season. He underscored his status by torturing the Texans’ defensive backs. Whether it was All-Pro Derek Stingley Jr. (3 catches, 49 yards, TD — and one sideline hit after a CB intercepted a 4th quarter pass intended for AJ Barner) or Kamari Lassiter (2 catches, 44 yards), JSN ate and ate and ate.
The mark of a truly great No. 1 receiver. 1 is the ability to win a route even when the defense knows it’s coming. With a great exit route and a pristine running route, JSN is like a 7-Eleven — always open.
The Seahawks needed Smith-Njiba’s production on Monday with three turnovers, including two by Darnold, keeping the Texans close enough to make it interesting.
For JSN, winning meant more than putting up another 100-yard game.
“Pretty good start,” Smith-Njigba said. “Like I said, my motivation has always been to win games, get to the playoffs, get a ring, help this team win. Anything I can do, I’ll do.”
Powered by JSN’s incredible start to the season, Seattle went 5-2, joining five other NFC teams with that record, including rival LA and San Francisco. It will be a tight race for the playoffs in the NFC West.