Ja’Marr Chase questions how WR rival Jaxon Smith-Njigba is being treated by NFL defenses
· Yahoo Sports
Ja’Marr Chase has questioned why Jaxon Smith-Njigba does not appear to be facing the same level of defensive attention as the Cincinnati Bengals star.
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Chase raised the issue on his podcast while discussing a route from the Seattle Seahawks receiver with former Bengals great Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson.
Smith-Njigba has enjoyed a strong start to the 2026 season after winning Offensive Player of the Year and a Super Bowl with Seattle in 2025. He also finished his latest game against the Arizona Cardinals with nine catches for 155 yards and three touchdowns.
Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty ImagesJa’Marr Chase wants to know why Jaxon Smith-Njigba isn’t being doubled
Chase was discussing Smith-Njigba’s route when he questioned why opposing defences have not appeared to give the Seahawks receiver the same treatment he receives.
“I seen JSN run a crazy route … why he ain’t getting doubled yet? That’s what I be tryna figure out.”
The Bengals receiver expanded on the point while explaining that he had experienced double coverage himself during Cincinnati’s game against Houston.
“Why he ain’t gettin’ doubled yet? That’s what I be trying to figure out,” Chase said. “I got doubled on 2nd and 10 by a linebacker and a corner. I really thought I was confused.”
There is some statistical context behind Chase’s observation. Smith-Njigba has nearly twice as many targets and receptions as Chase at this stage of the 2026 season, although those numbers alone cannot establish how often either receiver is being double-covered.
Defining double coverage is also difficult because defensive schemes can involve a cornerback and safety working together without two defenders directly following the receiver.
Photo by David Buono/Icon Sportswire via Getty ImagesOne metric provides another indication of the difference. Smith-Njigba has recorded 0.44 targets per route run in 2026, compared with 0.18 for Chase.
Chase’s comments come after Smith-Njigba continued to produce despite the attention around his breakout season. His latest three-touchdown performance against Arizona has added to the discussion surrounding how teams are choosing to defend him.
For Chase, though, the comparison is particularly notable because he has also been dealing with heavy defensive attention, including against the Texans. Smith-Njigba’s production could make it increasingly difficult for opponents to leave him without additional coverage as the season progresses.
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