Pete Carroll expects Marshawn Lynch to start vs. Vikes

Lynch’s return comes at a very good time for the Seahawks, who are preparing to face the Minnesota Vikings Sunday in a NFC wild card game. Lynch underwent surgery on November 25 for an injury related to a sports hernia. “We don’t have any different expectations than that”. He has played in every game the past two seasons. When you thought of the Seattle Seahawks over the past few years, you thought of Lynch and the defense, often in that order.

Instead they showed up looking like they had more to play for than the Cardinals, who still had a shot at getting the #1 seed and home field advantage throughout the playoffs.

But in a report on the Seahawks website, Carroll said in a press conference last Monday that Lynch is already good to go and has been working out.

Lynch had been gone from the team for six weeks, first to have his surgery in Philadelphia and then to do his rehabilitation with his personal trainers in San Francisco, across the bay from his native Oakland, California.

Lynch finished the regular season with just 417 yards on 111 carries, but Carroll believes he will be ready for a full workload at TCF Bank Stadium in Minnesota. Lynch has not practiced since Week 9 before the Seahawks faced Arizona.

Lynch gives the Seahawks a trusted source in big moments, when they need a yard or two, on second and third down.

Marshawn Lynch has rejoined the Seattle Seahawks just in time for the playoffs. We’ll see what they get out of Lynch come Sunday. Undrafted rookie Thomas Rawls stepped into a starring role nearly immediately, then was lost for the season to a serious ankle injury December 6 in Baltimore. Christine Michael, Bryce Brown and Fred Jackson will form an unpredictable committee in his absence on Sunday. Michael rushed for a career-high 102 yards against Arizona.

“I think so, yeah”, he said. At the end of the day, we stuck together, we fought through it. Hands on knees, but when the ball was snapped we emptied out our cup.

“We’ve been around him for such a long time, we’re going to be able to recognize those moves”, Carroll said.

Strong safety Kam Chancellor and offensive linemen Russell Okung and J.R. Sweenzy will also be back.

NOTES: Carroll didn’t have an update on CB Jeremy Lane, who left Sunday’s game with an oblique injury.

“He’s produced when he’s had his chances, he’s played really hard, he’s been really serious about every step of the way”, Carroll said.

Asked if Lynch would be able to handle 20-plus carries, offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell said, “If he’s going, that’s what I would expect”.

“I don’t think that’s going to be any factor at all”, he said.