Smith-Njigba Sets Historic Pace in Seahawks Victory
The receiver becomes the first to reach 1,000 yards by Week 8, extending his lead in the NFL receiving triple crown.
By Naomi Tesfaye ·
The National Football League is tracking a receiver who has already broken historical barriers in the 2026 campaign. On Sunday in Seattle, Jaxon Smith-Njigba secured the first 1,000-yard receiving season of the year for the Seahawks.
Smith-Njigba needed only three catches in the first quarter to cross the threshold. An eight-yard pass from Drew Lock pushed his total to exactly 1,000 yards against the Arizona Cardinals. The milestone occurred before the first quarter ended, a mark no other player has reached this season.
The fourth-year pro finished the game with seven receptions for 51 yards. Seattle defeated Arizona 17-3. Smith-Njigba now leads the league in receptions with 71, yards with 1,036, and touchdown catches with nine. This performance keeps him in control of the receiving triple crown.
The receiver enters his ninth game with a clear path to a historic season. He is chasing the first 2,000-yard receiving campaign in NFL history. The previous record stands at 1,964 yards, set by Calvin Johnson in 2012. Smith-Njigba also joined Steve Largent and Tyler Lockett as the only players in franchise history with three consecutive 1,000-yard seasons.
Teammate Cooper Kupp noted that Smith-Njigba focuses on winning while aiming for those records. "Anything is possible," Kupp said. "I'm sure that he wants that, but just the way he goes about his business, he wants to win games."
Smith-Njigba won Offensive Player of the Year last season after leading the league with 1,793 yards. He helped the Seahawks capture the Super Bowl title. The team now looks to maintain its offensive dominance as the season progresses.
