Yes, figure protecting it makes sense (8)
I believe the answer is:
eyesight
'sense' is the definition.
(sight is a sense)
'yes figure protecting' is the wordplay.
'figure' becomes 'eight' (eight is a number).
'protecting' is an insertion indicator (inserted letters are held or protected).
'yes' inserted into 'eight' is 'EYESIGHT'.
'it makes' acts as a link.
I am not very happy about this link. Some or all of it may be part of another bit of the clue.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for eyesight that I've seen before include "What's needed to see" , "Purpose of certain organs" , "View" , "Power of seeing" , "Showing sense" .)