Jaxon Smith-Njigba ready to turn the page and 'turn up' his 2026 campaign

RENTON, Wash. (AP) — Seattle Seahawks All-Pro wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba has never cared where he lines up at the line of scrimmage.

Whether it’s in the slot or the outside, or as the No. 1 or No. 2, he wants to continue to be multifaceted like the receivers he grew up watching.

“I always watched the ABs (Antonio Brown), the Dez Bryants and the Larry Fitzgeralds, and those guys really line up everywhere,” Smith-Njigba said Sunday. “So, I just wanted to be versatile to where I can line up literally anywhere, whatever the coach needs.

“You know, it’s easy to get the ball in my hands and turn up.”

Smith-Njigba definitely turned up his 2025 campaign and was a main cog to help the Seahawks capture their second Super Bowl in franchise history with a 29-13 triumph over the New England Patriots.

The AP Offensive Player of the Year set team records for receiving yards with 1,793 and receptions with 119 last season. He was a unanimous All-Pro selection, and had nine 100-yard receiving games during the regular season.

Seattle rewarded him with a four-year, $168.6 million extension this past offseason that averages $42.15 million annually and includes more than $120 million in guaranteed money.

But Smith-Njigba, 24, and Seattle are ready to move on after last season’s success, even if they have retained much of the roster.

“We want to create a new story with this upcoming season,” Smith-Njigba said. “And because it’s different, we do have different guys, we got different people in the building, so it’s going to be a unique story and a unique challenge — different from last year. So, we’re excited to take it on.”

He also wants to be a new version of himself.

“I want y’all to see different levels, almost a different player out there, and just kind of an upgraded version,” Smith-Njigba said. “I always say I can get better in all areas.”

What’s different, though, for Smith-Njigba this upcoming season is who’s calling plays on offense.

Seattle hired former San Francisco 49ers tight ends coach and run game coordinator Brian Fleury as their offensive coordinator, following Klint Kubiak’s departure to become the Las Vegas Raiders head coach.

In his four NFL seasons with Seattle, Smith-Njigba has never had the same offensive coordinator for consecutive seasons.

This will be Fleury’s first opportunity in the NFL to call plays.

“I love new stuff and new perspectives,” Smith-Njigba said. “As a player, it’s your chance to grow. And for me, I feel like whatever the coach asks, I can do it. And so it’s kind of cool just having a different mindset, a different coach.”

Seattle has one of the deepest receiver rooms in the NFL alongside Smith-Njigba with Cooper Kupp and last season’s midseason acquisition Rashid Shaheed, who signed a three-year, $51 million contract during the offseason. Second-year receiver Tory Horton is also healthy at training camp after a shin injury ended last season prematurely. He scored six touchdowns in eight games.

Smith-Njigba believes the talent and versatility of the receiver room brings out the best in him.

“Our receivers can play different positions, which allows me to line up anywhere on the field as well,” he said. “I try to make everything look the same. I’m not the tallest receiver, so I can sell and make everything kind of look the same. And I think inside and outside, that’s kind of hard to detect and to cover.”

And a mutual feeling permeated throughout the roster is putting last season's success behind them.

“The Super Bowl was great. You know, love to have it, but at the end of the day, we got to brush that off to the side,” Smith-Njigba said.

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba speaks to the media during an availability during the NFL football team's training camp, Sunday, July 26, 2026, in Renton, Wash. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba signs autographs during the NFL football team's training camp, Sunday, July 26, 2026, in Renton, Wash. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba runs the ball during the NFL football team's training camp, Sunday, July 26, 2026, in Renton, Wash. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba greets young fans as he runs out during the NFL football team's training camp, Sunday, July 26, 2026, in Renton, Wash. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

NEW YORK (AP) — Freddy Peralta and the last-place New York Mets never thought they would reach the final week of July well out of playoff contention, with the front office preparing to sell off assets at the trade deadline.

An offseason makeover that went bust after last year’s second-half collapse has the Mets 18 games under .500 with eight days remaining before the Aug. 3 deadline, and Peralta is among those expected to get moved to a postseason contender.

With his future uncertain, the right-hander held the Los Angeles Dodgers to three runs (two earned) and six hits while throwing 93 pitches in four innings Sunday before New York rallied with three-run homers by Tyrone Taylor and Marcus Semien in an 8-3 victory.

It could end up being Peralta's last start for the Mets.

“I can’t hide that,” Peralta said. “I know it probably is, but I have to focus and keep giving the best of myself and if it happens, it happens. I’m just thankful and grateful to be part of this organization. I know that so far I let them down. I haven’t (done) what I was supposed to do, but I’m grateful to be here."

Peralta can become a free agent after the season. The two-time All-Star was acquired from Milwaukee in January for youngsters Jett Williams and Brandon Sproat as the Mets gave up a pair of players rated among the game’s top 100 prospects in the anticipation Peralta would be the frontline starter they needed.

Instead, he is 5-9 with a 4.99 ERA in 22 starts and has failed to complete five innings in four of his past five outings. He was 5-5 with a 3.90 ERA after beating Atlanta 8-1 on June 14 but is 0-4 with a 7.93 ERA in his last seven starts, including a June 20 dud when he allowed 10 runs and 10 hits over 2 2/3 innings at Philadelphia.

“I just come here and try my best every day to stay healthy and give my best every five days,” Peralta said. “I know it hasn’t been that way. We haven’t done what we expected to in general. I know that I can be way better than this. I still believe in myself. I am born to be a winner, not a loser, and I think that I have a lot in me, a lot to show. And I know that it can change because I still have time to make a change, to make it better.”

Before joining the Mets during an offseason when they also added Luis Robert Jr. and Semien in trades and signed Bo Bichette to a $126 million, three-year contract, Peralta went 17-6 with a 2.70 ERA in 33 starts last season. He led the National League in wins, finished fifth in Cy Young Award voting and helped the Brewers win their third straight NL Central crown

“I trust him because he is going to catch his rhythm and go dominate five or six innings, which is all you’re ever looking for from a starter in a postseason situation,” Mets interim manager Andy Green said. “So he’s a guy that has a track record, has the experience, has the stuff. It is going to continue to trend back towards what he’s always been historically."

Taylor, who played with Peralta in Milwaukee before joining the Mets in a December 2023 trade, also can become a free agent this fall and could be making himself more attractive to contenders with his current hot streak.

Taylor’s homer was his fifth in 33 at-bats since returning from a strained right hip. Since being activated, the backup outfielder is hitting .382 with a 1.403 OPS, the highest in the big leagues since June 28 among players with at least 30 plate appearances.

“I’m just bracing for each moment here,” said Taylor, who is batting .237 overall with eight homers and 23 RBIs. “I’m trying to do my best to help the team win here. I’m not thinking anything (about) that at all besides just being present.”

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

New York Mets' Tyrone Taylor reacts after hitting a three-run home run during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Sunday, July 26, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

New York Mets' Tyrone Taylor hits a three-run home run during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Sunday, July 26, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

New York Mets pitcher Freddy Peralta throws during the second inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Sunday, July 26, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

New York Mets pitcher Freddy Peralta (51) throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Sunday, July 26, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)