Multiple defensive starters inactive for Seahawks again. Julian Love back vs his ex-Giants

For the second consecutive game, the Seahawks were without multiple starters on defense

Outside Boye Mafe was inactive for the second time in six days Sunday. He missed first-place Seattle’s game against the New York Giants at Lumen Field because of his knee he first injured last month in the Seahawks’ week-two win at New England.

Mafe was second on the Seahawks with three sacks, one behind Derick Hall, entering Sunday.

Rookie defensive tackle Byron Murphy missed his second consecutive game. He injured his hamstring in the second quarter of Seattle’s win over Miami Sept. 22.

The good Seahawks injury news Sunday: Ex-Giants captain Julian Love returned from the thigh injury that kept the Pro Bowl safety out of the final 2 1/2 quarters of Seattle’s loss at Detroit Monday night . Love started for the fifth consecutive game to begin the season. He had been officially questionable to play, though he promised Friday he was.

Jerome Baker was active to play for the first time in three games. The starting weakside linebacker has been out with a hamstring issue he’s had since early in training camp in August.

Uchenna Nwosu was full go in pregame warmups and poised to play for the first time this season. He’d been inactive since Cleveland guard Wyatt Teller’s cut block Aug. 24 sprained Nwosu’s left knee in the final preseason game.

Sunday was set to be the first game Nwosu played with Leonard Williams.

Williams returned from missing one game with injured ribs to play against his former Giants. The Seahawks acquired the one-time Pro Bowl defensive lineman from New York in a trade 12 months ago. That was when Nwosu was out with a torn pectoral for the final 11 games of the 2023 season.

Williams played nine seasons for the Jets, who drafted him sixth overall in 2015, and the Giants (2019-23).

Before he played his 14th game with the Seahawks Sunday, The News Tribune asked Williams: What’s the difference he feels playing in Seattle versus New York?

“I might get a lot of hate for this, but in the end of the day, it’s true, and I think it’s known at this point. But it’s just the fan base out here is just amazing,” Williams said at his locker Friday.

“You know, they’re there for all four quarters cheering you on. It’s just the atmosphere is incredible,” Williams, 30, said. “It’s super loud...it’s electric, and it’s fun to play in (Lumen Field), especially as a defensive guy, because that’s when the crowd gets loud (when the opponent’s offense is on the field). Sometimes you can’t even hear the guy right next to you. I think that’s the biggest difference.”

Seattle’s other inactive players for the Giants game: backup offensive linemen Olu Oluwatimi, Michael Jerrell and Sataoa Laumea.