This Sunday’s matchup is set to be pivotal for both of Seattle’s standout pass-catchers. Jaxon Smith-Njigba, currently leading the league in receiving yards by a substantial margin, has the opportunity to further enhance an already impressive first half of the season. The third-year receiver has already surpassed the 1,000-yard mark within just nine games and has managed to top 100 receiving yards in six of those contests. If he achieves another 100-yard performance, he will break Steve Largent’s franchise record for the most 100-yard games in a single season. A mere 75 yards in this game would also make him the first player since the Super Bowl era to record at least 75 receiving yards in each of the first 10 games of a season.
Devon Witherspoon, a fellow 2023 first-round pick, reflected on Smith-Njigba’s potential early in his career, saying, “I said my rookie year, ‘just because he didn’t have the numbers everybody else thought he would have, y’all just don’t know what he has in store for y’all.’ We always expected him to be this guy, now he got a chance to show it, and everybody gets a chance to see it now, of course.”
On the opposing side, Cooper Kupp is approaching the game with a professional mindset, treating it like any other match. However, the narrative extends beyond just another game. It’s a significant opportunity for him to demonstrate to the Rams that he still possesses a wealth of talent after they opted to part ways with him in a salary-cap-saving maneuver during the offseason. Kupp, a native of Yakima, has returned to his home state, signing with Seattle after eight productive years with the Rams. His tenure in Los Angeles was highlighted by a record-breaking 2021 season, during which he led the league in receiving yards, receptions, and touchdowns, ultimately earning Super Bowl MVP honors.
While Kupp hasn’t seen the same volume of targets he enjoyed during his time with the Rams, he has remained efficient and has proven to be an invaluable asset to the Seahawks, contributing significantly beyond just his performance on the field every Sunday.
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“He’s incredible,” quarterback Sam Darnold stated. “I feel like I talk about it a lot, but just the work that he puts in, it’s unlike anyone else that I’ve ever met. He’s been a huge fit for us as an offense with just the way that he works and just the things he can do on the field as well. He’s also been a huge catalyst for bringing these guys together and bringing the team together too. This is probably the understatement of the year, but he’s a very important piece of what we’re building here.”
