Stacy Rost: Seahawks’ offense showed something important in Week 4 win

To say the Seattle Seahawks’ offense leans on Jaxson Smith-Njigba would be an understatement.

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Seattle’s All-Pro wide receiver accounting for a record 36% of all targets last year (up to 39% this year) doesn’t have to be a critique. Not when you’re the reigning Offensive Player of the Year. Not when you finish with over 1,700 yards. Not when Seattle won a Super Bowl. And certainly not when you’re leading the league in receiving yards through four weeks this season. It would be one thing if Sam Darnold was stubbornly forcing the ball to his star wideout and the Seahawks’ offense was failing; instead, Smith-Njigba almost always, inexplicably, finds himself open. He had accounted for six of Seattle’s nine touchdowns heading into Week 4.

But in Sunday’s win over the Chargers, the Seahawks had a different approach. Three different Seahawks found the end zone for the first time this year: running back Emanuel Wilson (twice), and wide receivers Rashid Shaheed and Tory Horton.

That matters for two reasons. First, each of these players stands to play a much bigger role in the offense than they do now. Wilson got the start for injured rookie Jadarian Price (who’ll miss at least four weeks after being placed on injured reserve) and shouldered the load for a Seahawks run game that’s far trailing the efficiency of their passing attack.

TWICE IS NICE ‼️ Emanuel Wilson puts up a quick six before the half.

📺: @NFLonCBS pic.twitter.com/OSgKEbCGCx

— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) October 4, 2026

That’s big, considering this less-than-stellar stat from ESPN’s Bill Barnwell:

NFL RBs are converting about 50 percent of their carries inside the two-yard line into TDs.

Seahawks RBs are 0-for-6.

— Bill Barnwell (@billbarnwell) September 27, 2026

Shaheed had his first offensive touchdown as a Seahawk, which feels hard to believe given his massive contributions on special teams last season. But Seattle never quite found a way to make the most of Shaheed on offense; he finished the regular season with 188 yards on 15 receptions after his trade to Seattle. This was his first offensive touchdown since Week 5 (then for New Orleans) and, perhaps not coincidentally, it came with Seattle trying new ways to use him – this time leaning on his speed out of the backfield on a 28-yard run.

Electric speed 🔥 @RashidShaheed to the end zone for a 28-yard TOUCHDOWN.

📺: @NFLonCBS pic.twitter.com/ZBTqi9wCSk

— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) October 4, 2026

Horton’s touchdown was his first since Week 9 last season, also the last game he played before landing on IR to end his year. Seattle Sports host and analyst Michael Bumpus praised Horton’s route running in our season previews and predicted a big sophomore season — if he can stay healthy.

Chat, that’s a touchdown 😏 @toryhorton11 to the end zone.

📺: @NFLonCBS pic.twitter.com/nMZJSiQ1lc

— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) October 4, 2026

So, yes, the first reason it matters is that it helped Seattle win the game, and those players all found the end zone for the first time this season. But the second reason it matters is this: For as electric and elite as Smith-Njigba is, Seattle’s pass game stumbled in the final third of the regular season last year, and the Seahawks had to find other ways to win. After surpassing 100 yards on the ground in just half of their first eight games last year, the Seahawks had 100-plus in 10 of their final 12, including the playoffs. It’s not that they weren’t still winning with Darnold and JSN, but they became more dynamic after the pass game ran into some trouble (Darnold was sacked at least twice in five of his final six starts in the regular season).

They don’t have to find the exact same formula this year, and JSN isn’t showing any sign of slowing down. But every Super Bowl winner got there by finding ways to evolve as new challenges arose, and every bit of development from other offensive weapons helps the Seahawks do just that.

Seattle Seahawks news and more

• Report: Seattle Seahawks hosting 2-time Pro Bowl RB on free-agent visit
• Roster Moves: Seattle Seahawks place RB Jadarian Price on IR

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