**Seahawks' Injuries Improve as Key Defenders Eye Return Against Giants**

The Seattle Seahawks are gearing up for Sunday's game against the New York Giants with a more promising injury report compared to last week. After dealing with a slew of injuries in their recent loss to the Detroit Lions, the team is cautiously optimistic about the return of several key defensive players.

The Seahawks have managed to rule only two players out for this weekend: defensive tackle Byron Murphy II due to a hamstring injury, and wide receiver Malik Nabers, who is navigating concussion protocol. Both outside linebacker Boye Mafe and safety Julian Love remain questionable, but the outlook is positive for other significant team members.

Defensive lineman Leonard Williams appears set to return after missing Monday's game, while inside linebacker Jerome Baker is likely to play after sitting out the past two games. Additionally, outside linebacker Uchenna Nwosu, who has been sidelined for four weeks with an MCL sprain, practiced with limitations and could make his season debut.

Seattle's focus isn't solely on Sunday's match. With a crucial NFC West showdown against the San Francisco 49ers scheduled for next Thursday, there is speculation about whether the Seahawks might strategically rest some players. As co-host Bob Stelton of Seattle Sports' Wyman and Bob pointed out, "going into that one healthy has much more value to it." This suggestion hints at leaving some players sidelined to ensure peak fitness for the division game, even though the Giants are struggling with an average of only 15.0 points per game this season.

Dave Wyman, another co-host and former NFL linebacker, emphasized the balancing act the Seahawks face: "I know that every single game is crucial... but I do think you need to have some long-term planning here." The team's new head coach, Mike Macdonald, faces a challenging task in managing these injury concerns, as his approach to such situations remains largely uncharted territory.

Fans are eager to see how these decisions will pan out come Sunday, and whether the Seahawks can maintain their competitive edge while also preparing for the pivotal clash with the 49ers next week.