Pete Carroll anticipates getting Marshawn Lynch back for playoffs
Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch is likely to return to practice Monday following the team’s Week 17 contest against the Arizona Cardinals, according to head coach Pete Carroll.
“I have an expectation of that,” Carroll said, via Sheil Kapadia of ESPN.com. “Let me say I’m anticipating that.”
The running back has missed more than half the season dealing with an abdominal injury, among other nicks and bruises. He finally opted for surgery back in late November to fix the problem and is on his way back, provided things go according to plan.
“The reports that we got, the latest update today is that he’s really doing well, and he’s done about all he can do at that end of it,” Carroll said. “That’s great to hear. We’ll see what that means in the next couple of days. But he’s really tried to get back as soon as possible. He’s having the kind of success and the work that’s not setting him back. So we’re hoping that means he has a chance to get back to us next week.”
It’s going to be interesting to see how Lynch integrates back into the offense, and to see how much the coaching staff wants to use him. In his absence, quarterback Russell Wilson has transformed himself into one of the deadliest passers in the league.
Before last Sunday’s game against the St. Louis Rams, Wilson went on a five-game streak in which he threw 19 touchdowns and no interceptions. During this streak, he became the first player in NFL history to throw at least three touchdowns and no interceptions in five straight games.
Because of this, offensive line coach Tom Cable recently said Lynch would have to “adapt to this football team.”
While it’s true the Seahawks have developed a new identity on offense without “Beast Mode” running behind Wilson, it’s hard to imagine he’s going to play second fiddle for long when he comes back, provided he’s healthy.
Winning in the postseason usually requires the ability to pound the rock, and there is nobody better at this in the league than Lynch, who has his fair share of playoff signature moments.
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