Jaxon Smith-Njigba is chasing NFL history after historic start puts the Seattle Seahawks superstar alongside Randy Moss and Jerry Rice
Jaxon Smith-Njigba is the only player since 2000 with 400 receiving yards and six receiving touchdowns through three games, and he’s chasing Calvin Johnson’s all-time single-season record.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba is the best wide receiver in football right now, and it’s not particularly close. The Seattle Seahawks star just posted another dominant stat line against the Washington Commanders. Through the first three games of the 2026 season, he is putting together an Offensive Player of the Year caliber campaign. A campaign that has him chasing some of the most iconic names in NFL history.
Smith-Njigba has now hit 100 receiving yards and a receiving touchdown in three straight games to start the season. That streak is tied for the second longest in the Super Bowl era, trailing only Randy Moss in 2007, who strung together four consecutive games with that mark. JSN will have a chance to tie Moss next week when the Seahawks face the Los Angeles Chargers. The Chargers have allowed over 200 passing yards each game so far.
History is certainly on the table for the Seahawks star.
Historic company for JSN
The numbers are staggering no matter how you slice them. Smith-Njigba is just the second player ever to post 120-plus receiving yards and one or more receiving touchdowns in each of his team’s first three games of a season. The only other player to do it? Hall of Famer Jerry Rice, the greatest wide receiver of all time in many people’s minds.
Based on his yards-per-game average, JSN is currently on pace for 2,295 receiving yards, which would shatter the NFL’s single-season record. Now, the realistic chance of that happening is slim. But what could genuinely be up for grabs is the all-time receiving yards record of 1,964, set by Detroit Lions legend Calvin Johnson. That alone would be a historic achievement.
I think the most impressive part of all of this is what Smith-Njigba has done without his starting quarterback. JSN played the first two games of this season with backup quarterback Drew Lock. In the first game, he went for 122 yards and a touchdown against the Patriots. Last week, he put up 155 yards and three touchdowns against the Cardinals. With Sam Darnold back under center yesterday, Smith-Njigba posted 128 yards and two touchdowns on a season-high 10 receptions.
It just doesn’t matter who is throwing him the ball. He’s going to do his thing regardless.
A franchise-altering talent
Look, here’s the stat that really puts it all in perspective. Since the year 2000, only one player has recorded 400 receiving yards and six receiving touchdowns through the first three weeks of a season. That player is Jackson Smith-Njigba. The end of the list. Nobody else. He’s already creating his own history.
Seattle has a Hall of Fame potential player in Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Through three games, he’s been the most dominant offensive weapon in the NFL, and he’s doing it against quality competition while having multiple quarterbacks. The Seahawks have potentially one of the greatest players to ever come through the franchise, and the 2026 season is only getting started. Buckle up.
