JSN names Gonzalez his toughest cornerback after being shut down twice — SkimNews
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- Jaxon Smith-Njigba became the first official guest on CBS Sports' 'Set Hut' show, where he called the pressure of being labeled the NFL's best receiver a 'privilege' and said he prepares the same regardless of opponent.
- Christian Gonzalez limited Smith-Njigba to one catch for 16 yards on five targets in Super Bowl LX, then allowed zero receptions across 10 coverage matchups and two targets in the Week 1 rematch, per Next Gen Stats.
- Smith-Njigba is on pace for the NFL's first 2,000-yard receiving season with 405 receiving yards through three games, with Russell Wilson publicly calling the Seahawks receiver the best in the league.
- Sam Darnold returned from a soft tissue injury for his first full game, which Seattle lost 33-31 to Washington, snapping a franchise-best 12-game win streak; JSN praised Darnold as 'a baller' and 'a winner' with 'ultimate trust' heading into year two together.
- The Seahawks now turn to an Oct. 4 matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers, with Smith-Njigba saying the key to defending their title is 'burying our egos' and 'accepting the new challenges.'
Why it matters: With Smith-Njigba tracking for 2,000 receiving yards and 405 through three games, his acknowledgment that Gonzalez largely erased him twice — one catch in the Super Bowl, zero in Week 1 — establishes the Patriots' third-year cornerback as a shutdown-caliber defender worth building a game plan around, and gives any future Seattle-New England matchup added weight.
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