On Monday, Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll said that running back Marshawn Lynch was “ready to go” for the team’s Wild-Card against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday. Lynch returned to practice this week after not playing since November 15th due to abdominal surgery.
But after Friday’s practice, Lynch felt he wasn’t ready to play, and has already been ruled out for the game. He didn’t even travel with the team to Minnesota.
Confirming via the team, Marshawn Lynch did not travel to Minnesota and is OUT for Sunday’s game with the Vikings
— Steve Wyche (@wyche89) January 9, 2016
Lynch told the team after Friday’s practice that he did not feel that he could play, according to the Seahawks
— Steve Wyche (@wyche89) January 9, 2016
Marshawn Lynch told the team right before they got on the plane he didn’t feel he could play this week.
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) January 9, 2016
Lynch only averaged 3.8 yards per carry in his seven games played this season, but with impressive rookie back Thomas Rawls also going down to injury (for the season), the Seahawks are left with Christine Michael and Bryce Brown as their top two running backs for the playoff game.
Michael was productive (17 carries, 102 yards) vs the Cardinals in Week 17, but he’s also been released by three teams this season (including the Seahawks). Brown hasn’t impressed in his opportunities, running for just 72 yards on 25 carries (2.8 average).
The good news for Seattle is quarterback Russell Wilson has been nothing short of amazing this season. Wilson finished the season as the NFL’s passer rating leader (110.1), and threw for 24 touchdowns and just one interception over the Seahawks’ final seven games. If he keeps playing anything at all like that, Seattle’s running back situation may not matter.
Of course, the passing conditions could be pretty difficult with Minneapolis’ Sunday forecast.
