For Smith-Njigba, another productive day was something to celebrate not because it allowed him to extend his NFL lead with 1,541 receiving yards through 14 games, but because it helped produce the team’s 11th win.
“It means a lot,” he said. “Just taking care of my body and making sure I’m here for my teammates, that’s what I want to do and honestly, I could care less about any stats right now. I just want to win.”
Smith-Njigba not only added to his own franchise record with a ninth 100-yard game this season, with 96 catches this season, he is also on the verge of breaking the single-season receptions record (100) that he shares with Tyler Lockett. Sunday was also Smith-Njigba’s 12th game this season with 90 or more yards, passing Justin Jefferson for the most 90-yard games in a single season by a player 23 years or younger.
But what stood out most about Smith-Njigba’s game Sunday wasn’t the numbers, impressive though they were, it was the way he competed throughout the game even when things weren’t always going well for him or for the offense.
“Man, he competed,” said fellow receiver Cooper Kupp, who added five catches for 46 yards. “I have to watch the film, but I think he competed the best that he has all year, in the midst of not getting a lot of opportunities, not getting a whole lot of stuff coming his way that he has been for the course of the season. But, late in that game, we’re running an inside run, and they bring a safety, internal pressure, and he’s on it. He knows that he has to be able to come down and get that nickel in the run game. Things like that are what we need. That’s what we need from our offense; guys that are going to stay engaged and know that it doesn’t matter when you’re number’s called. The expectation is that you are ready no matter what, because we go one play to the next, and your job is to execute. Just execute. Do your job. Do your job, and one of these times the ball is going to be coming your way and your job is to then execute. Catch it, and do something fun with it. I think he did a great job of that today.”
