Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who’s already on a path for the NFL’s first 2,000-yard receiving season, just dropped a bombshell when he revealed the most difficult cornerback he’s ever faced: Christian Gonzalez of the New England Patriots. This isn’t just some casual pick, either, folks. Our superstar receiver, the guy Russell Wilson himself calls the best in the NFL, is giving major props where it’s due, even when it means calling out a dude who got the best of him.
The One Defender Who Actually Had JSN’s Number
When JSN hopped on CBS Sports’ “Set Hut” as their first official guest, he called the pressure of being considered the best receiver a “privilege.” He usually doesn’t like to have a plan at the line of scrimmage, preferring to “be creative” instead. That creativity is clearly working, given his ridiculous pace of 405 yards through just three games. But when asked to crown the toughest corner, there was no hesitation: Christian Gonzalez.
JSN flat out said, “I think Christian Gonzalez had the best game against us for sure.” And the stats back him up big time. In Super Bowl LX, Gonzalez held JSN to just one catch for 16 yards on five targets. But it gets even crazier. In the Week 1 championship rematch, Next Gen Stats shows Gonzalez allowed *no receptions* while covering JSN directly over 10 coverage matchups and two targets! To be clear, JSN still hauled in eight catches for 122 yards in that opener, but all of them came against zone coverage or a different defender. That’s a serious shutdown, and for a guy chasing NFL history, that kind of challenge is rare.
Darnold’s Back, But the Streak is Snapped
It’s worth remembering that JSN’s incredible 405-yard start has come even with some quarterback shuffle. Sam Darnold, our starter, missed a game and change earlier this season due to a soft tissue injury. But he’s back now, and JSN is stoked. “It means a lot,” JSN said about having Darnold back. He added that it “felt right, felt comfortable” with Darnold during training camp. “We’re excited to build on year two with each other. Definitely got ultimate trust in him,” Smith-Njigba emphasized. “We love Sam, he’s a baller, he’s a playmaker and he wants to win, he’s a winner. It feels good having Sam back in the huddle.”
Unfortunately, Darnold’s first full game back didn’t go our way. We faced a tough 33-31 loss to the Washington Commanders, a game JSN called a “tough one.” Even worse, that defeat snapped a franchise-best 12-game win streak! It stings, no doubt. But JSN is already looking ahead, saying the team will “keep battling.” He’s got a clear message for the locker room if we’re going to turn things around: bury those egos. “We understand that this is a new season, this is a new story, a new team,” JSN explained. “It’s a new chapter in the Seattle Seahawks. … we have to move forward, accept the new challenges that we haven’t faced before and just keep pressing forward and stay together.”
Next up, the boys hit the field against the Los Angeles Chargers. After a tough loss and a broken streak, it’s all about burying those egos and pressing forward, just like JSN said. The Emerald City needs to see our guys come out hungry and prove that last week was just a bump in the road for this new chapter.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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