Seahawks initial injury report for Week 4 versus Lions is hopeful until it isn't

Injury report giveth and then they taketh away. For the Seattle Seahawks, they might be getting back a key defensive player in Week 4 and then they could also be without a couple of players that were injured in Week 3. The initial injury report for Week 4 against the Detroit Lions is a day later since Seattle plays on Monday Night Football but no less concerning.

The good news is that edge rusher Uchenna Nwosu will probably be back against the Lions even though he sat out Thursday's practice. He has yet to play this year after hurting his knee in the preseason. He hasn't played at all since Week 7 of last year because he tore a pec muscle in 2023. In other words, it's been nearly a year since Nwosu played in a real game.

Rookie defensive tackle Byron Murphy II is expected to miss "some time," according to ESPN, though his absence is not expected to be overly long. The team wants to take it cautious with a player who should have an impact for most of the next decade. That makes sense due to the financial commitment involved.

Seattle Seahawks and Detroit Lions initial injury reports ahead of Week 4

The Lions will have their own injury concerns entering the game. Their initial injury report listed tight end Sam LaPorta as a non-participant on Thursday. So was Pro Bowl center Frank Ragnow. Whoever wins in Week 4 might simply come down to which team can overcome the absence of key players more.

Seattle will still struggle with quality and depth among its offensive line. The Seahawks are down to their third-string right tackle, Stone Forsythe. He has been decent in the last two games but that could change if constantly having to protect Geno Smith from Lions edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson. If something happens to Forsythe, Seattle is in real trouble.

Detroit Lions initial injury report from Thursday:

• Tight end Sam LaPorta - ankle - did not practice
• Safety Ifeatu Melifonwu - ankle - did not practice
• Center Frank Ragnow - pectoral - did not practice
• Offensive tackle Dan Skipper - ribs - did not practice
• Defensive back Brian Branch - concussion - limited practice
• Defensive tackle Alim McNeill - shoulder - limited practice
• Defensive tackle Levi Onwuzurike - knee - limited practice
• Cornerback Ennis Rakestraw - hamstring - limited practice

Seattle Seahawks initial injury report from Thursday:

• Right guard Anthony Bradford - knee - did not participate
• Linebacker Jerome Baker - Hamstring - did not participate
• Edge rusher Boye Mafe - knee - did not participate
• Defensive tackle Byron Murphy II - did not participate
• Defensive lineman Leonard Williams - ribs - did not participate
• Edge rusher Uchenna Nwosu - knee - did not participate
• Tight end Noah Fant - toe - limited
• Running back Kenneth Walker III - oblique - limited
• Left guard Laken Tomlinson - ankle - limited
• Tight end Pharaoh Brown - foot - limited
• Linebacker Derick Hall - hip - limited
• Nose tackle Johnathan Hankins - calf - limited

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