Ken Walker III Returns, Key Defenders Out for Monday Night’s Game

The Seattle Seahawks are set to welcome back running back Ken Walker III for their Monday night showdown against the Detroit Lions, despite the absence of at least four pivotal defensive players. Saturday’s announcement confirmed that defensive linemen Leonard Williams and Byron Murphy, along with outside linebackers Uchenna Nwosu and Boye Mafe, will not be on the field. Inside linebacker Jerome Baker’s participation remains uncertain. All except for Murphy, a first-round pick who has clocked 78 combined snaps across his first two NFL games before a hamstring injury last week, are starters.

Player Injuries Impacting the Seahawks

Williams, who holds the title of the highest-paid defensive player in Seahawks history, sustained a rib injury during last week’s victory over the Miami Dolphins. Mafe, currently ranking sixth amongst edge defenders this season in pass block win rate, exacerbated a previous knee injury in the same game. Nwosu, the team’s leading edge defender, was absent from the first three games due to an MCL sprain.

Lions Favored, Seahawks Face First Major Challenge of the Season

As of Saturday afternoon, the Lions (2-1) were favored by 3.5 points, according to ESPN BET. The Seahawks’ undefeated start to the season is somewhat mitigated by their victories against the Denver Broncos in Bo Nix’s NFL debut, the New England Patriots in overtime, and the Dolphins without Tua Tagovailoa.

The imminent game against the Lions at Ford Field is perceived as their first significant challenge of the season. The team’s defensive front will be notably weak without their top four front-seven defenders as they aim for a 4-0 start under new coach Mike Macdonald.

Coach Mike Macdonald Optimistic Despite Injuries

According to Macdonald, the absence of the four key players provides an opportunity for others to step up. “You’ve got four guys that are down, four more guys are going to be up,” he commented. “When you discuss depth in your football team, it should feel like ‘I’m excited to see who seizes this opportunity.’ That’s our perspective.”

The coach admitted that the team’s tight schedule of three games in 10 days influenced some of the decisions regarding who will and won’t play on Monday night. “It’s definitely a topic of discussion,” he noted. “It’s early in the season, so if we were playing in the Super Bowl, the conversation would likely be different.”

Walker and Baker’s Injury Updates

Walker, who missed the last two games due to an oblique injury incurred in the fourth quarter of the opening game, was listed as limited on Thursday and Friday but participated fully on Saturday. Macdonald confirmed Walker is ready to play. Meanwhile, Baker’s status remains uncertain after limited participation on Saturday, following no practice on Thursday or Friday.

Macdonald Confirms Injuries Are Not Long-term; Nwosu Expected Back by Week 4

According to Macdonald, Mafe’s knee issue is far from critical. An insider shared with ESPN that Murphy, who was the 16th selection in this year’s draft, might be absent for more than a single week. When asked about the injuries to Mafe, Murphy, Williams, and Nwosu, Macdonald stated,

“The exact recovery periods are uncertain, but none are expected to be prolonged, unless circumstances shift.”

Nwosu suffered an injury in the last preseason match. However, the Seahawks opted not to put him on the injured reserve list, which would have necessitated him sitting out the first four matches, as they were hopeful of his return by the fourth week.

Nwosu’s Commitment to Recovery

Macdonald confirmed that Nwosu was making good progress without any setbacks. “Everyone is familiar with Uchenna,” he remarked.

“He’s an incredibly hard worker. Giving him a chance to recover, while keeping him involved with field activities like walk-throughs, seemed like the right choice, despite it not going as planned.”

Bradford and Haynes to Play Monday Night

Right guard Anthony Bradford was back in full training on Friday and Saturday after missing Thursday’s practice. Despite starting the first three games, Bradford has been penalized six times. To address this, Seattle had rookie third-round selection Christian Haynes fill in at right guard in the initial two games. Macdonald confirmed that both Bradford and Haynes are slated to play on Monday night.