Seahawks RB Marshawn Lynch ruled out vs. Vikings

After practicing with the Seahawks on Friday, Lynch told coaches that he felt like he would not be ready this week. Pete Carroll and Mike Zimmer were asked how their teams are preparing, and both downplayed the issue. It makes me think that Seattle’s blowout win was more of an aberration than something you can expect to happen again on Sunday.

Carroll had sent some mixed signals during the day about Lynch’s availability. “He’s looked really good”, Carroll said after the final practice of the week and before the team departed for Minnesota. “We’re just going to go play football and do the things that we know how to do and try to do them really well regardless of what the conditions are”. “We’re going into it with the best mentality that we can, knowing that it’s going to be a cold game”.

Lynch was downgraded to out following Friday’s practice and did not fly with the team that night to Minneapolis. I’m guessing Carroll was as surprised as everyone else when he learned that Lynch didn’t feel like he was healthy enough to play.

Lynch was listed as questionable on the team’s injury report Friday, but apparently didn’t board the team bus to go to the airport.

Christine Michael and Bryce Brown are expected to see the bulk of the rushing load with Lynch out.

SO MUCH FOR BEAST MODE: The Seahawks have not had running back Marshawn Lynch on the field since November 15 against Arizona, when he attempted to play through an abdominal injury.

Russell Wilson got sacked a league-high 31 times in the first seven games behind that line, and looked spooked by attempting to stand in a pocket that kept collapsing on him. They relish it. Seattle has lost all three of its last cold weather games and hasn’t played a game colder than 32 degrees this season.

The game will draw recollections of Bud Grant and Minnesota’s Purple People Eaters era when the Vikings gained a huge late season home field advantage over teams not acclimated to winter in Minnesota; this will be the Vikings first home outdoor playoff game since December 3, 1972.

Perhaps Seattle decided if they were going to limit Lynch’s carries or outright bench him they were better off leaving him home rather than bringing him to Minnesota and letting him be disruptive. He was rehabbing in San Francisco before showing up at the Seahawks’ facility on Monday.

The Seahawks lead the all-time series 9-5; this is the first time the two have met in the playoffs.

Willson suffered a concussion in Seattle’s Week 16 loss to the St. Louis Rams and seemed on track for a return this week after missing the team’s regular season finale.