Jaxon Smith-Njigba saved his best for last under the Monday Night Football lights, it seems.
With the Seattle Seahawks trailing 17-13 with under a minute remaining, the former Ohio State star had his biggest catch of the season, pulling in a 29-yard touchdown snag to give the Seahawks a 20-17 lead (and ultimately the win) to remain in playoff contention with just three games remaining in the regular season.
Lock to JSN for the lead!
NFL (@NFL) December 19, 2023
: #PHIvsSEA on ESPN/ABC
: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/bbJNB6yPkz pic.twitter.com/t7q0x5073q
If that catch looked familiar, it’s because the 6-foot, 197-pound wideout made a very similar catch to tie the game in the fourth quarter during his record-breaking 15-catch, 347-yard, three-touchdown performance against Utah in the Rose Bowl two years ago.
Practice makes perfect. #DevelopedHere
— Josh Poloha (@JorshP) December 19, 2023
(h/t @chaseabrown__) pic.twitter.com/ZIh9n3Hh15
"The Ohio State, they prepared me for these moments," Smith-Njigba said on SportsCenter with Scott Van Pelt following the Seahawks' comeback win. “Every game, I come with the same approach: Let’s win. Let’s bring it all on the line. I had that mindset in college, and I have that mindset here in the pros.”
Developed here, right? It's uncanny.
We knew that looked familiar pic.twitter.com/4KOuZEBrUh
— Eleven Warriors (@11W) December 19, 2023
Following his record-breaking three-year career at Ohio State, Smith-Njigba was the 20th overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft this last April. With his performance Monday night, the rookie has totaled 53 catches for 535 yards and two touchdowns in 14 games so far this season.
