The Seattle Seahawks (7-2) have been one of the season’s biggest surprises through the first 10 weeks of the NFL season. After a dominant 44-22 win over the Arizona Cardinals, they’re gearing up for a huge showdown against NFC West rival Los Angeles Rams (7-2) on Sunday.
Seattle has talent all over the field, but the combination of quarterback Sam Darnold, acquired this offseason, and star wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba has been their bread and butter.
Smith-Njigba, however, was the target of a hard hit from Cardinals safety Budda Baker in Week 9. On Saturday, when the NFL released its weekly fines, Baker was handed a $17,389 penalty for unnecessary roughness on a defenseless receiver.
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The NFL issued 25 fines in Week 9 and followed up this week with 24 more, continuing its effort to crack down on a range of issues—from taunting and late hits to unnecessary roughness and hip-drop tackles, which have now been deemed illegal, though inconsistencies remain in how officials enforce the rule.
Player safety has become a central focus for the league, aiming to eliminate dangerous plays wherever possible. While Baker’s hit on Smith-Njigba wasn’t overly excessive, any unexpected shot to the helmet—even when not necessary—is likely to draw attention and fines more often than not.
This season, Smith-Njigba has arguably been the NFL’s top wide receiver, delivering consistent production week after week.
He has already surpassed 1,000 receiving yards, totaling 63 receptions for 1,041 yards and five touchdowns, while averaging 16.5 yards per catch heading into Sunday’s matchup with the Rams—a game with major implications for both the division and the conference.
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