Seattle Seahawks WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba and San Francisco 49ers CB Deommodore Lenoir
Getty
Seattle Seahawks WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba and San Francisco 49ers CB Deommodore Lenoir
There’s no love lost between the San Francisco 49ers and Seattle Seahawks.
The NFC West rivals battled it out in the final week of the regular season last year to determine not only who would win the division but also claim the No. 1 seed in the NFC and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.
Seattle won that game and the playoff rematch — a 41-6 victory in the divisional round of the playoffs.
While it’s clear the two teams do not like one another, things may have escalated in the rivalry after the latest remarks made by Seahawks star wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba.
49ers DBs Sent Warning Shot From Smith-Njigba
Seattle Seahawks WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba and San Francisco 49ers DB Trevis Gipson Jr.
GettySeattle Seahawks WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba and San Francisco 49ers DB Trevis Gipson Jr.
During an interview with fighter-turned-broadcaster Paul Felder on the UFC on Paramount+ broadcast on Saturday morning, Smith-Njigba was asked which opposing defensive back in the NFL he would most like to step inside a cage with — and his answer didn’t disappoint.
“What cornerback, if you had a chance and would like to be locked in that octagon with that you’ve played with that you’re like, ‘I’d love to get to punch this guy and choke him out’ — who would it be?” Felder asked.
“Definitely not Devon Witherspoon,” Smith-Njigba joked. “He’s a wild guy. Um, there’s couple guys out there — anyone from the L.A. Rams of the San Francisco 49ers, you know what I’m saying, I’d happily get in the ring with.”
Deommodore Lenoir, Smith-Njigba Have Complicated Relationship
Seattle Seahawks WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba and San Francisco 49ers CB Deommodore Lenoir
GettySeattle Seahawks WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba and San Francisco 49ers CB Deommodore Lenoir
While any of the 14 defensive backs on the 49ers roster would likely relish the opportunity to get Smith-Njigba 1-on-1 inside a steel cage, cornerback Deommodore Lenoir would presumably be first in line to do so.
Lenoir is likely the one player who gets under Smith-Njigba’s skin the most. The two went back and forth last season taking shots at one another.
Lenoir called out Smith-Njigba in the lead up to the game, but the Ohio State alum ended up having the las laugh after Seattle’s 35-point victory.
“Hopefully, I’ll get to shadow JSN,” Lenoir said days before the game. “I’m ready for this. I hope he ready. Man to man covers me and him. That’s what I want. Me and him.”
Smith-Njigba jabbed back after the game: “I definitely heard (what Lenoir said). It’s hard to respond back to all my fans. But I knew that we were going to see him today and take care of business.”
Lenoir fired the latest shot in the rivalry, sharing a post the day after Smith-Njigba’s monster extension showing how dominant he was against him last season (he surrendered no receiving yards and zero touchdowns matched up against JSN in Week 1 and 18, and he allowed one catch for 4 yards in the playoffs).