The Seattle Seahawks will be without Marshawn Lynch at running back when they travel to face the Minnesota Vikings in the NFC Wild Card round on Sunday, the team announced on Friday.
Marshawn Lynch ruled out for Seahawks vs. Vikings
Lynch is eighth in NFL history in postseason rushing yards, but won’t be available for Seattle on Sunday.
The ninth-year running back reportedly told team trainers he was unable to go this weekend and did not travel with the team to Minneapolis, but hopes to play in the Divisional Round should Seattle advance in the playoffs, per Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports.
Lynch, 29, hasn’t played since Week 10 and has been recovering from a hernia surgery he had in November. The ninth-year running back missed nine games during the 2015 season after never missing more than four games in his first eight NFL seasons.
During his time recovering from the surgery, Lynch turned to MMA trainer Tareq Azim, who spoke glowingly about the progress made by the running back in his gym.
Whether or not he returns for the playoffs, this could be Lynch's final season with the team, just over five years after he was traded by the Buffalo Bills. Due to count $11.5 million against the salary cap in 2016 and $12.5 million, it might be time for the Seahawks to move on without Lynch, which could be easier after the emergence of Thomas Rawls.
Rawls tallied 391 rushing yards, three rushing touchdowns and a receiving touchdown in his three starts after Lynch's departure following Week 10, but suffered a broken ankle that ended his season. The Seahawks finished the regular season by relying on Bryce Brown and Christine Michael at running back.
Lynch is eighth in postseason history in rushing yards with 917 and could become the seventh player to reach 1,000 career rushing yards in the playoffs.
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