RENTON, Wash. – The Seattle Seahawks will be without at least three key defenders on Thursday night after ruling out Pro Bowl cornerback Riq Woolen, outside linebacker Uchenna Nwosu and defensive tackle Byron Murphy II for their NFC West showdown with the San Francisco 49ers at Lumen Veld.

Another defensive starter, Pro Bowl safety Julian Love, is listed as questionable.

Coach Mike Macdonald said early in the week that Nwosu (thigh) would not play and that Murphy (hamstring) was also likely out, but Woolen’s status was less clear because of the ankle injury that knocked him out of Sunday’s loss to Seattle. for the New York Giants.

“We’ll see next week, but he looks good now,” Macdonald said on Wednesday. ‘He’s moving fine. He’s just not ready for this match yet.’

Tre Brown, who struggled against the Giants, is Seattle’s third cornerback behind Woolen and fellow Pro Bowl player Devon Witherspoon. The team also has veteran Artie Burns on the practice squad and rookie Nehemiah Pritchett on the 53-man roster.

Macdonald confirmed Nwosu was headed to injured reserve and indicated he was expected to be sidelined for more than the minimum of four games. Nwosu sat out the final 11 games of last season due to a torn pectoral muscle and the first four games of this season due to an MCL sprain. He made his debut in 2024 against the Giants, but went down again in his 20th time.

“We think there is a very good chance of getting him back towards the end of the season,” said Macdonald. “We are with him now. He needs our support. The man has had a difficult time. He is going to fight his tail. He will come back better than ever, but it is just a shame for him. He is a man who We lean on him as a team and he is a leader on our defense and our football team. But he has a chance to come back and be healthy and fresh before the end of the season.”

The Seahawks are expected to have their other two top outside linebackers available on Thursday. Boye Mafe (knee) and Derick Hall (foot) are questionable, but Macdonald said he is confident they will play. Mafe sat out the past two games and Hall, who leads Seattle with 5.0 sacks, went down late against the Giants.

Macdonald said Love (hamstring) would likely be a game-time decision.

Including the playoffs, the Seahawks have lost five in a row to San Francisco dating back to the start of the 2022 season. The 49ers have outscored them 148-72 in that span.