Vikings star receiver Justin Jefferson is quiet during the Seahawks game and after

SEATTLE – Fans expecting a showcase of two of the NFL’s star receivers on a sunny Sunday at Lumen Field instead got a defensive slugfest that saw both Justin Jefferson and Jaxon Smith-Njigba metaphorically sidelined.

Neither Jefferson nor Smith-Njigba recorded a catch in the first half of the Vikings’ 26-0 loss to the Seahawks on Sunday, and neither was even targeted until the second quarter. They combined for four total catches on 10 targets — Jefferson 2-of-6 for 4 yards and Smith-Njigba 2-of-4 for 23 yards.

Jefferson declined to speak with reporters postgame after a career-low performance. It’s the first game this season after which he has not spoken.

Smith-Njigba was the first to log a reception, catching a six-yard pass from Sam Darnold with just over five minutes to go in the third quarter. The reception moved the chains for the Seahawks to the Vikings’ 22-yard line, though they still couldn’t reach the end zone and closed the drive with a field goal to go up 19-0.

At about the same time, Jefferson sat on the sideline bench further from the game action, next to rookie Tai Felton rather than near Jordan Addison and Jalen Nailor down the bench.

After another drive, Jefferson returned to his spot on the bench alone and wrapped a towel over his head.

Working with undrafted rookie quarterback Max Brosmer, who was making his first regular-season start, Jefferson got his first catch shortly after Smith-Njigba’s. The reception itself resulted in a loss of four yards, but Seahawks rookie safety Nick Emmanwori was flagged for unnecessary roughness for throwing Jefferson to the ground.

With Jefferson and Smith-Njigba limited, it was a big receiving day for both teams’ tight ends. T.J. Hockenson led for the Vikings with six catches for 59 yards while AJ Barner caught four passes for 35 yards for the Seahawks.

Vikings left tackle Christian Darrisaw was inactive due to a foot injury suffered last week against the Packers. He’d been listed as questionable Friday after only practicing once this week and in limited fashion.

Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell said that Darrisaw was “close” but it was “a combination of the ankle, some discomfort there and ... his knee is something that he’s working through every week.”

Justin Skule filled in for Darrisaw while Blake Brandel stepped in for rookie left guard Donovan Jackson, who had been ruled out prior to Sunday because of an ankle injury also suffered at Green Bay.

The Vikings dropped to just two starting offensive linemen in the fourth quarter when center Ryan Kelly was ruled out because of a hip injury. Michael Jurgens took over for him.

Jones said he was “feeling all right” and referenced the AC joint sprain he suffered in the victory over the Lions on Nov. 2.

The Vikings also scratched veteran wide receiver Adam Thielen from their lineup. Since the Vikings traded for him in August, this is the first game in which Thielen’s been inactive.

Thielen has started five games and made eight appearances, catching eight passes for 69 yards. But his snaps have been consistently in the single digits since the Vikings returned stateside in Week 6; he’s maxed out at 12 snaps against the Chargers in that stretch.

Outside linebacker Jonathan Greenard returned to the Vikings lineup against the Seahawks after he missed two games with a left shoulder injury.

He did not enter the game until near the end of the Vikings’ first defensive series, though. Second-year outside linebacker Dallas Turner got his seventh start of the season opposite Andrew Van Ginkel.

“It was a blessing to see him out there,” Turner said of Greenard’s return. “Every pregame we do a little warmup together with the D-line. He had a little pop in his strike today, so I kind of knew it was gonna be one of them ones for sure.”

Running back Cam Akers, who had been on the Vikings practice squad since Sept. 16, was signed by the Seahawks on Wednesday after Minnesota released him Nov. 22.

Akers was elevated three times to the Vikings’ active roster, playing 31 total snaps while Jones was on injured reserve. He carried five times for 19 yards. He also threw a touchdown pass in the Vikings’ win over the Browns in London.

Last season, Darnold connected with Akers on a 6-yard pass on a pivotal play in the Vikings’ Week 17 win over the Packers, converting a third down that allowed the Vikings to kneel out the clock.

Darnold said the pair reminisced on that play Friday.

Akers was inactive Sunday against the Vikings.