SEATTLE — Buried underneath the rubble of a forgettable, flat-out ugly Sunday Night Football primetime 30-13 Seattle loss to the Green Bay Packers was one small silver lining: at least receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba wasn’t a no-show.
His second-year breakout continued — one of few bright spots in an otherwise dismal Seahawks effort in front of a sellout crowd at Lumen Field on Sunday. Smith-Njigba, in his second season with Seattle after being drafted by the Seahawks in the first round of last year’s NFL Draft, is now just six yards away from becoming the first Seahawk not named D.K. Metcalf or Tyler Lockett to hit the 1,000-yard receiving mark since Doug Baldwin racked up 1,128 yards in 2016.
While Seattle’s offense largely disappeared in their neon-shaded ‘Action Green’ uniforms on Sunday night, Smith-Njigba was again productive, catching a team-high 10 passes for 83 yards in the losing effort.
No sophomore slump here: Smith-Njigba leads all Seattle receivers this season in yards (994) and touchdowns (five), ahead of Metcalf (840 yards, three touchdowns) and Lockett (533 yards, two touchdowns). He has benefited from double teams focused on Metcalf and has made the most of his chances, establishing a rapport and turning into the go-to target for quarterback Geno Smith.
“I think my team and (offensive coordinator Ryan) Grubb and everybody has the trust in me to go make plays and help the team win the game,” Smith-Njigba told The News Tribune in a quiet postgame locker room. “However many balls that takes, I feel like I’m willing and able to get it done.”
With three games still remaining in the regular season, Smith-Njigba is already far ahead of his 17-game season total from last season, when he caught 63 passes for 728 yards and four touchdowns. He has also been one of the league’s most productive receivers this season, currently sixth in receiving yards with 994.
“This guy’s been making plays since we walked in the door and there’s a reason that we drafted him in the first round last year,” Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald said after the game. “Can’t speak to last year but this guy’s a dynamite player and he just brings it every day. He’s the guy that we thought he was. He’s playing great. He’s doing a great job.”
Seattle’s path to the postseason looks harder after Sunday night’s loss. The Seahawks are now tied with the Los Angeles Rams with identical 8-6 records in the NFC West. LA, by virtue of its win over Seattle earlier this season, holds the head-to-head tiebreaker, but the teams meet again in the final week of the regular season.
Seattle hosts Minnesota next weekend, 1:05 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 22 at Lumen Field. The Seahawks close the regular season with games against Chicago and the finale against the Rams. LA, meanwhile, has what appears to be an easier schedule with games against the hapless New York Jets and a so-so Arizona team before playing Seattle.
Still, Seattle controls its playoff destiny with three games remaining.
“Everything’s in front of us, all of our goals,” Smith-Njigba said. “We just have to get ready next week, get ready for Minnesota and get a win.”
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