Seattle Seahawks WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba continues history with 2 games remaining

“I would first like to thank God that I’m healthy, that I feel good, that I can go out and put on that Seahawk helmet,” Smith-Njigba said after the game. “It means a lot to me. Geno (Smith) too. I want to thank Geno and the rest of my teammates, the receivers, for allowing me to get open and the O-line to do their job. Hopefully this is just the beginning.

If the season ended today, Smith-Njigba would rank fourth all-time in franchise history in catches in a season and 14th in receiving yards. He still has two games left to climb higher in the rankings.

Smith-Njigba has totaled fewer than 50 receiving yards this season just four times and hasn’t recorded fewer than 69 yards since Seattle’s Week 8 loss to the Buffalo Bills. He was the Seahawks’ undisputed best receiver for most of the season.

With a 23.9 percent goal share this season, Smith-Njigba’s goals have been consistent and plentiful. His catch rate also increased by more than six percent, helping fuel what has been a remarkable, near-elite season.

“He’s a great player, he’s had a great season,” Smith said of his best player. “You have to expect these things from him. I think he’s only going to continue to improve. He’s a fighter. I have a lot of heart. This is something that goes very far.

Smith-Njigba’s breakout forced sixth-year receiver DK Metcalf to take a back seat in offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb’s offense. Although Metcalf led the receiver group with three triple-digit games in Seattle’s first four games, it’s mostly been Smith-Njigba since.

Metcalf hasn’t been targeted more than nine times in a game since Week 7. During the same span, Smith-Njigba has received 10 or more targets four times.

Grubb’s offense favored Smith-Njigba, who had plenty of space to work in the middle of the field by taking most of his snaps from the slot. Through 15 games, 79.2 percent of Smith-Njigba’s snaps came from the slot, according to Pro Football Focus. This represents an increase of almost 12 percent from his rookie season (67.9 percent).

But there are two games left. Metcalf holds the single-season receiving record by a Seahawks player (1,303 yards) set in 2020. Smith-Njigba needs 215 yards to break Metcalf’s record — a lofty but achievable goal. It should be noted, however, that Smith-Njigba will have completed this goal in 17 games while Metcalf only had 16.

Seahawks legend Steve Largent has five of the top 10 receiving seasons in franchise history. Smith-Njigba could break through those ranks with just 59 receiving yards over the final two games, which would outpace Bobby Engram’s 2007 campaign (94 catches, 1,147 yards, 6 TDs).

Outside of the receiving yards record, an even more achievable record would be to surpass the single-season receptions mark. Smith-Njigba needs just eight catches to surpass Tyler Lockett’s 100-reception season in 2020.

Regardless of how Smith-Njigba finishes the season, he has proven that he will play a major role in the Seahawks offense. Seattle doesn’t have to worry about locking him up long-term either, with two years left on his rookie contract.

Grubb and Seattle may only be scratching the surface of Smith-Njigba’s potential. He has been the Seahawks’ leading pass catcher this season and one of the best receivers in the league.

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