4 key defenders are out against the Lions

The Seattle Seahawks will be without at least four key defensive players for their showdown against the Detroit Lions on Monday night.

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The Seahawks ruled out outside linebackers Boye Mafe (knee) and Uchenna Nwosu (knee), defensive end Leonard Williams (ribs) and defensive tackle Byron Murphy II (hamstring) in their final injury report on Saturday.

“There are four guys that are down, that means four more guys are going to step up,” head coach Mike Macdonald told reporters after practice on Saturday. “I’m looking forward to seeing these guys play. When you talk about depth on your football team, you want to feel like, “Okay, I can’t wait to see who gets this opportunity now.”

“So that’s our view, the guys will have more opportunities than they normally have had and we’re looking forward to seeing what they do.”

Inside linebacker Jerome Baker (hamstring injury) was listed as questionable.

Running back Kenneth Walker III (oblique) and a number of others did not carry a designation after being listed on the injury report the past two days.

With Mafe and Nwosu out, the Seahawks will be without two of their top pass rushers.

Mafe had an excellent start to his third NFL season, collecting three sacks and four tackles in the first three games. His 17 total quarterback pressures rank fourth in the league among edge rushers, according to Pro Football Focus.

Nwosu is still out as he recovers from an MCL sprain suffered in the preseason finale against Cleveland. Seattle had kept him off injured reserve earlier in the season in hopes he could return before the four-week deadline. Nwosu had 9 1/2 sacks and 12 tackles for loss in 2022 and had two sacks and four tackles for loss in just six games in 2023 before his season was cut short by a torn pectoral muscle.

“This guy works extremely hard. “It was worth the try,” Macdonald said of the decision to keep Nwosu on IR. “It was the right decision, in my opinion, to have him out there and do all those things on the field, do some walk-throughs and other things and stay committed even when it didn’t work out in our favor.”

Trevis Gipson is expected to see more time on the sidelines alongside starters Derick Hall and Dre’Mont Jones.

The absences of Williams and Murphy are also a big blow to the defensive line. Both were injured in the first half of last week’s home win against Miami and did not return. Williams has 1 1/2 sacks and a tackle for loss. Murphy, a 2024 first-round draft pick, has half a sack and a tackle for a loss.

Mike Morris and Myles Adams are expected to help fill the void alongside veterans Johnathan Hankins and Jarran Reed.

Baker missed last week’s contest after suffering an injury in Week 2 against New England. He had nine tackles and one tackle for loss in the first two games.

Rookie Tyrice Knight ended up starting last week with Baker out while Drake Thomas also came in at linebacker.

Walker has been sidelined since injuring his oblique muscle in the season opener against Denver. He rushed for 103 yards and a touchdown in the win.

“He looked good,” Macdonald said. “He’s ready to go.”

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