Seahawks Face Lions Shorthanded: 5 Key Defensive Players Out for Monday Night Showdown

The Seattle Seahawks will be facing a tough test on Monday Night Football when they take on the Detroit Lions, but they'll be doing so without five key defensive players due to injuries.

The Seahawks ruled out defensive linemen Leonard Williams and Byron Murphy, as well as outside linebackers Uchenna Nwosu and Boye Mafe on Saturday. Inside linebacker Jerome Baker is also questionable to play.

All of the players ruled out are starters, except for Murphy, who is a first-round pick who was injured in last week's win over the Miami Dolphins. He played 78 combined snaps in his first two NFL games.

Williams, the highest-paid defensive player in Seahawks history, suffered a rib injury in the game against the Dolphins. Mafe, who ranks sixth among edge defenders this season in pass block win rate, aggravated an earlier knee injury against Miami. Nwosu, Seattle's top edge defender, missed the first three games due to an MCL sprain.

The Lions (2-1) were 3.5-point favorites as of Saturday afternoon, per ESPN BET. The Seahawks' 3-0 start has come with the caveat that they've beaten the Denver Broncos in Bo Nix's NFL debut, the New England Patriots in overtime and the Dolphins without Tua Tagovailoa. Playing the Lions at Ford Field already was billed as their first real challenge of the season, and now they'll be without arguably their four best front-seven defenders as they look to go 4-0 under new coach Mike Macdonald.

The Seahawks have been able to overcome these injuries, with their offense clicking under quarterback Geno Smith. They'll be looking to continue their success, but it will be a tough task against a Lions team that is hungry to win.

Seahawks Players Ruled Out For the Game

The Seahawks will be without four key defensive players in the game against the Lions. They include Leonard Williams, Byron Murphy, Uchenna Nwosu, and Boye Mafe. These players are all starters and have been instrumental to the Seahawks' success this season.

Leonard Williams

Williams is the highest-paid defensive player in Seahawks history and a key part of their defensive line. He suffered a rib injury in the game against the Dolphins and has been ruled out for the game against the Lions. His absence will be a major blow to the Seahawks defense.

Byron Murphy

Murphy is a first-round pick who was injured in last week's win over the Dolphins. He played 78 combined snaps in his first two NFL games before injuring his hamstring. He is expected to miss more than one week. Murphy's absence will hurt the Seahawks' secondary.

Uchenna Nwosu

Nwosu is Seattle's top edge defender and missed the first three games due to an MCL sprain. He suffered the injury in the final preseason game. He's not expected to return until Week 5 against the New York Giants. Nwosu's absence will make it harder for the Seahawks to generate pressure on the quarterback.

Boye Mafe

Mafe aggravated an earlier knee injury against Miami. Mafe, who ranks sixth among edge defenders this season in pass block win rate, is expected to return in Week 5 against the Giants. Mafe's absence will hurt the Seahawks' pass rush.

Seahawks Offense Must Step Up

The Seahawks will need their offense to step up and carry the load in the absence of these key defensive players. They will be looking to running back Kenneth Walker III to lead the way. He missed the last two games with an oblique injury, but he is expected to return for the game against the Lions. Walker is a dynamic playmaker and will be a key factor in the Seahawks' offensive success. He rushed for 103 yards and a touchdown in a Week 1 win over the Broncos.

The Seahawks will also need quarterback Geno Smith to continue his strong play. Smith has been playing well and is the biggest reason for the Seahawks' 3-0 start. He will need to be sharp against a tough Lions defense to help the Seahawks overcome the absence of their key defensive players.

What to Watch For

The Seahawks will need to play a near-perfect game against the Lions to come out on top. They will need to:

Limit turnovers: The Seahawks have been relatively mistake-free on offense this season. They can't afford any turnovers against the Lions.
Establish the run: The Seahawks need to establish the run to take pressure off Geno Smith and to control the clock. Walker will be a key factor in this regard.
Get pressure on Jared Goff: The Lions are a very good team, but they're led by quarterback Jared Goff. If the Seahawks can get pressure on Goff, they'll be able to disrupt his rhythm and force him into mistakes.
Play with intensity: The Seahawks will need to play with intensity and passion to make up for the absence of their key defensive players. The Lions will be a tough opponent on the road, so the Seahawks need to bring their A-game.

Conclusion

The Seahawks' chances of beating the Lions will be slim, but it's not impossible. If they can get a big performance from their offense, they could pull off the upset. However, the Seahawks will need to play a near-perfect game to overcome the absence of their key defensive players. It should be a thrilling contest and a great test for the Seahawks as they look to continue their early-season success.