3 Seahawks that must step up with so many starters out in Week 4

The Seattle Seahawks play the Detroit Lions in Week 4 in a matchup of two teams dealing with multiple injuries. At the beginning of the week leading up to the game, Detroit appeared to be the more banged-up team. That isn't how it turned out.

Instead, the Lions only listed center Frank Ragnow as out. The team also won't have edge rusher Marcus Davenport who was lost for the season after being hurt in Week 3. Otherwise, Detroit is in good shape.

The Seahawks will be without both of their best edge rushers, their best defensive lineman, and a rookie standout. That is a lot to lose among the front seven facing a good team. These players will need to play well to give Seattle any chance of winning.

Three Seattle Seahawks who need to play like stars in Week 4 against the Detroit Lions

Edge rusher Derick Hall

Hall has, thankfully, had a good 2024 season so far. This was after he was the edge rush equivalent to right guard Anthony Bradford last year. Both graded near the bottoms of their respective positions, according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required), and each appeared on the cusp of being draft busts even after only one season. Bradford has still been bad in 2024, but Hall has not.

The difference in Week 4 is that Hall will have to be great. He won't have Boye Mafe playing opposite him and taking attention away from Hall. This will be his first game where he needs to be the guy instead of just a piece of the rotation. The issue is that Seattle will be playing a Detroit team with a very good offensive line, even though they will also be missing a key piece.

He has 12 total pressures and three sacks so far while playing good run defense. The key for Hall on Monday will be putting pressure on Lions quarterback Jared Goff.

Defensive lineman/edge rusher Dre'Mont Jones

Jones was moved to edge rusher this offseason, though he is still more of a hybrid than a pure outside linebacker. After Byron Murphy II and Leonard Williams were both injured in Week 3, Jones was forced to be moved back to a defensive end, and he played most likely his best game for Seattle in his two seasons with the team, at least in terms of quarterback pressure.

Jones had five total pressures, though he did not have a sack. He also played stellar run defense and can beat teams running or passing. Jones needs to also have a well-rounded game against Detroit for Seattle to have any chance of winning. Jones will also likely be pressed to play more snaps than he had to in Weeks 1 and 2, so the hope is that he will not tire late in the second half.

Edge rusher Trevis Gipson

Gipson hasn't had to do much in his first three games in a Seahawks uniform. He played fewer than ten snaps in the first two games but jumped to 15 in Week 3. That number will go even higher in Week 4 as Seattle will be without Mafe and Uchenna Nwosu. Gipson is a veteran so he should be able to adapt and adjust quickly to what the Lions are trying to do.

The question is whether Gipson has the ability to make an impact against the run. For most of his career, he has been more of a specialized pass rusher and not good against the run. In other words, he has been a slightly better version of former Seahawk Darrell Taylor. Gipson might only have to be good for one game as Mafe and Nwosu might be back in Week 5, but in Week 4, Gipson needs to be a star.

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