It took eight years, but the Seahawks finally found a non-quarterback who can complete a trick play pass.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba is first on the Seattle Seahawks in receptions, and now he’s first in yards per attempt as a quarterback.
In the second quarter of Seattle’s 34-14 win over the Atlanta Falcons, the second-year wide receiver caught a backwards pass from Geno Smith, then threw it deep down the field to a leaping DK Metcalf for 35 yards.
This JSN to DK connection was WILD.
: #SEAvsATL on FOX
: https://t.co/waVpO8ZBqG pic.twitter.com/8xqEUMk4UN— NFL (@NFL) October 20, 2024
By no means will that go down as a great decision or terrific style points for Smith-Njigba, but all that matters is that it went to the correct team. This was Seattle’s longest offensive play of the afternoon, although the drive was squandered due to a sack and a penalty.
“That play call, when I’m throwing it, I just say, ‘I don’t care.’ I’m just about to throw it, give my playmakers a chance, really. I don’t care. I’m going to throw the ball and make a play,” Smith-Njigba said in the post-game press conference.
JSN is the first Seahawks non-quarterback to complete a pass since Jon Ryan in 2017… on a fake field goal that went for -4 yards. He’s the first Seahawks receiver to complete a pass since Doug Baldwin threw a touchdown to Russell Wilson in 2016. It’s the first “receiver to receiver” trick play to work for Seattle since Golden Tate heaved a touchdown throw to Sidney Rice in the Seahawks’ 28-7 win over the New York Jets in 2012.
The last four trick play pass attempts prior to JSN’s were… well they were dreadful. The aforementioned -4 yard flip from Ryan to Luke Willson was surrounded by interceptions from Tanner McEvoy, DeeJay Dallas, and Josh Gordon.
We survived these plays so JSN could throw it to DK. pic.twitter.com/W92qDEvYph
— Mookie Alexander (@mookiealexander) October 21, 2024
Well done to JSN for ending the streak. I’m cool with not seeing this play again any time soon.