On Wednesday, head coach Mike Macdonald wore the same calm that has already grown all too familiar to Seahawks loyalists. With cameras rolling and queries arising regarding his battered roster, Macdonald braked, grinned, and delivered a two-word reply that summarized his frame of mind heading into Week 3.

As posted by Gregg Bell on X, ”When I asked Mike Macdonald before practice about any new injuries, the Seahawks coach said ‘nothing crazy.”’ The two-word message: ”nothing crazy” from the coach says it all about the calm in the Seahawks locker room despite the challenges. For a team attempting to pile up the wins, Wednesday’s injuries could not have come at a worse time. When he was asked before practice whether there were any developments to share, Macdonald’s response reassured the 12th Man while also challenging his players to push through and stay tough.

Macdonald, who took over a defense full of talent but filled with early-season absences, knows he has to keep things even-keel heading into Sunday’s game with the New Orleans Saints. The Seahawks’ injury list story had expanded. There were nine players on the official participation report, including starter stalwarts. Zach Charbonnet missed with a foot injury. Nick Emmanwori (ankle), both running backs and safeties, respectively, did not see the field. Safety Julian Love was on the injury list with a groin issue last week, but now he is on there with a hamstring injury. And cornerback Devon Witherspoon with a knee injury.

Right tackle Abraham Lucas was also listed as limited due to an elbow injury. The linebacker Derick Hall was limited in practice with a hip injury sustained late in the game against Pittsburgh. Receiver Tory Horton (groin), cornerback Josh Jobe (knee), and linebacker Ernest Jones (shoulder) are all on the injury list. This comes on the heels of Witherspoon and Emmanwori also missing Seattle’s Week 2 win against the Steelers. Optimism had been that both of the defensive backs would return to pads in the middle of the week, but Macdonald’s caution suggests that the schedule is heading toward making a decision on Friday. The injuries aren’t merely names on a list; they influence how Seattle can utilize its personnel on Sunday.

Charbonnet’s foot problem jeopardizes the symmetry of the run game, and Lucas’s elbow constrains an offensive line already under fire. Defensively, Witherspoon and Emmanwori’s absences change how Seattle can match up against the Saints’ receivers, potentially exposing the unit to big plays. But Macdonald’s “Nothing crazy” quote emphasizes the perception on his part that the risk is not season-altering.

Mike’s Seattle cannot ignore the Saints

Seattle fans can relate all too well to this feeling. A game at home against a team they “should” beat, stuck between the marquee games, has taken its toll on the Seahawks before. Just last season, the Giants came into Lumen Field as huge underdogs and beat Seattle 29-20. That loss shadowed the Seahawks deep into their season, effectively ending what was becoming a division-winning season.

This week offers a frighteningly similar situation. As reported by Kole Musgrove of Seahawks Wire. The Saints arrive winless but feisty. On paper, the Seahawks are more seasoned, more talented, and quicker. But as any crusty veteran of the NFL will remind you, paper doesn’t play football. The Saints have beaten Seattle four straight times since 2013, two of those at Lumen Field. Their defense remains cautious, and their offense’s game plan is adequate to capitalize on vacancies brought by injuries.

Seattle’s task this Sunday is double: show that they learned from last year’s mistakes and get on a winning streak that can carry them through the season. However, there is no room for error. New Orleans, on the other hand, is riding consecutive close losses but remains well-coached and physical. They’ve been a spoiler in the past, and they’ll go to Seattle with nothing to lose.

The Seahawks are walking a fine line, resting injured starters while trying to maintain momentum from last week’s win. Sunday offers a chance to show fans that this team won’t repeat past mistakes. A clean performance would keep Seattle on track and signal a path back to contention.