Seattle Seahawks to be shorthanded during pivotal primetime matchup against San Francisco 49ers
The injury bug has bitten the Seattle Seahawks' defense. ESPN Seahawks insider Brady Henderson has reported that Seattle will be without starting cornerback Riq Woolen and rookie defensive tackle Byron Murphy II for their Week 6 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers on Thursday night. The Seahawks will also be without linebacker Uchenna Nwosu, as […]
The injury bug has bitten the Seattle Seahawks' defense.
ESPN Seahawks insider Brady Henderson has reported that Seattle will be without starting cornerback Riq Woolen and rookie defensive tackle Byron Murphy II for their Week 6 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers on Thursday night.
The Seahawks will also be without linebacker Uchenna Nwosu, as he is expected to head to injured reserve with a thigh injury that he suffered against the New York Giants last week. It's another tough break for Nwosu, who missed the first four games of the season with a knee injury. Nwosu also missed the final 11 weeks of the 2023 season with a pectoral injury.
Woolen also suffered his injury last week against the Giants, spraining his ankle in the third quarter. If Seattle wasn't on a short week, it's possible that Woolen could have played. 2024 fifth-round pick Nehemiah Pritchett will make his first career start for Woolen on Thursday. Pritchett allowed three receptions on six targets against New York last week.
Murphy II will miss his second consecutive game with a hamstring injury. He has been a difference maker for the Seahawks' defensive line against both the run and the pass. Hamstring injuries can linger, but it's a good sign that he hasn't been put on injured reserve. Veterans Jarran Reed and Leonard Williams will hold it down in Murphy's absence.
Coach Mike McDonald sounded optimistic about linebackers Boye Mafe and Derick Hall's chances of playing on Thursday night, but safety Julian Love will likely be a game-time decision. The pressure will be on McDonald to scheme up an effective gameplan on a short week with all these injuries. A silver lining for Seattle is that the 49ers are dealing with a couple of key defensive injuries of their own.
