Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba continues to soar higher in a Year 2 breakout.
Texans coach DeMeco Ryans knew coming into the week that they’d have to slow JSN. They still couldn’t stop Sam Darnold’s go-to target from finding space or making special grabs. The wideout torched Houston on Monday night in a 27-19 win, snagging eight of 14 targets for 123 yards and a touchdown.
Teammate Cooper Kupp, a former triple crown winner, knows a thing or two about taking a defense’s best shot and still producing.
"Yeah, there's nothing routine about what he's been able to do productivity-wise," Kupp said, via the team’s official website. "It's very difficult. That's difficult. 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 a really good job of that."
Smith-Njigba has five games with 100-plus receiving yards in 2025, most in the NFL. Just seven weeks in, that number is tied for second in a season in Seahawks history -- Steve Largent had six 100-plus yard games in 1979, per NFL Research.
Monday night, JSN became the youngest player (age 23) in the Super Bowl era with 75-plus receiving 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 receiving yards in their first seven games of the season at age 24 or younger (in the Super Bowl era).
"He's a Seahawk, man, how he operates, his determination, the pride he takes in his work," head coach Mike Macdonald said. "I'll tell you what, guy's a great teammate. The great ones are. I know everybody is out there supporting him. He fights like crazy for his teammates, as well. But he's obviously doing great. What did he end up with today? That's pretty good."
We mentioned last week that JSN was a clear first-team All-Pro early this season. He underscored his standing by torturing Texans defensive backs. Whether it was All-Pro Derek Stingley Jr. (three catches, 49 yards, TD -- and one sideline scuffle after the CB intercepted a fourth-quarter pass intended for AJ Barner ) or Kamari Lassiter (two catches, 44 yards), JSN ate and ate and ate.
The mark of a truly great No. 1 receiver is the ability to win a route even when the defense knows it’s coming. With a stellar get-off and pristine route running, JSN is like 7-Eleven -- always open.
The Seahawks needed Smith-Njiba’s production on Monday with three turnovers, including two from Darnold, keeping the Texans just close enough to make it interesting.
For JSN, winning meant more than putting up another 100-yard game.
"A pretty good start," Smith-Njigba said. "Like I said, my motive has always been to win games, get into the playoffs, get a ring, helping this team win. Anything that I can do I'm going to do."
Powered by JSN’s incredible start to the season, Seattle moved to 5-2, joining five other NFC teams with that record, including rival L.A. and San Francisco. It’s going to be a helter-skelter race to the postseason in the NFC West.