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The best protection on display in the Seattle Seahawks’ win over the Houston Texans on Monday night was no one dressed on either sideline.
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba was caught in the middle of a nasty sideline scuffle in the fourth quarter when Texans cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. intercepted Sam Darnold on a pass intended for AJ Barner.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba (11) of the Seattle Seahawks has his helmet knocked down by Houston Texans cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. (24) who intercepted a pass intended for Njigba as Kamari Lassiter (4) looks on in the second half of an NFL football game Monday, Oct. 20, 2025, in Seattle, Washington. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)
Smith-Njigba went into blocking mode but was stiffed by Stingley as the two fell on the Texans sideline.
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Smith-Njigba’s helmet flew off during the play and he was pushed to the bench by a Houston player. Several Texans then gathered around Smith-Njigba, and that’s when former NFL player-turned-official Nate Jones jumped between the two.
In a now-viral moment, Jones got between Smith-Njigba and the animated Texas players and shielded him with both arms as the swarm of players was broken up.
After the match, Smith-Njigba praised Stingley for making “a great play on the ball” but downplayed the interaction on the bench.
An official and Cooper Kupp (10) of the Seattle Seahawks look at Jaxon Smith-Njigba, sitting on the Houston Texans’ team bench, after the Texans’ Derek Stingley Jr. intercepted a pass late in the second half of an NFL football game, Monday, Oct. 20, 2025, in Seattle, Washington. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
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“No, I felt good there. It’s Monday night, I’m not really worried about anything as far as my face and stuff.”
When asked specifically about Jones’ intervention, Smith-Njigba was grateful.
“Yeah, we had a nice little chat. I took a deep breath, tried to enjoy the moment as much as possible and ran to my side.”
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba answers questions during a news conference after an NFL football game against the Houston Texans, Monday, Oct. 20, 2025, in Seattle, Washington. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Jones was a seventh-round pick in the 2004 NFL Draft. He spent four seasons as a cornerback for the Dallas Cowboys before joining the Miami Dolphins in 2008. He also had short stints with the Denver Broncos and New England Patriots before turning to arbitration in 2019.
Smith-Njigba, who heads the NFL in receiving yards this season, scored his fourth touchdown of the year and finished the 27-19 victory with eight receptions for 123 yards.
