Seattle Seahawks downgrade Marshawn Lynch, Brandon Mebane to out for Monday vs

Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch, center, rushes against the Chicago Bears in the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, September 27, 2015, in Seattle.

Tate was notable in Seattle for several on-field moments – including his controversial touchdown catch in the infamous “Fail Mary” game versus the Green Bay Packers in 2012 – as well as off-the-field incidents, like when he was caught trespassing at a Bellevue Top Pot Doughnuts at 3 a.m. shortly after he joined the Seahawks in 2010. Lynch is nursing a hamstring injury and Mebane did not practice all week after a groin injury against the Chicago Bears.

That was a game that followed what has become a familiar formula for the Seahawks this season – a balky beginning then a fast finish. Quin has 13 interceptions since the start of 2013 season, tied for most in National Football League with Cleveland’s Tashaun Gipson and Seattle’s Richard Sherman.

The numbers are just as stark when looking at yardage. Contrast that with the second half, where the Seahawks are averaging 18.3 points and 225.7 yards.

Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll had a familiar refrain for reporters seeking an update on the status of running back Marshawn Lynch following his team’s Saturday walk-through at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center. He also said he wouldn’t mind a more comfortable beginning from time to time. “We tried to keep him and we just couldn’t get there, where he wanted to go”, Carroll said. “We certainly would. We do know that that doesn’t determine what happens in the game unless you let it. How you finish is what’s important. That’s not the approach”.

Carroll said that Richardson, who tore his ACL in Seattle’s divisional-round playoff game against the Carolina Panthers last season, is progressing rapidly and should make a return to the fold as soon as he’s eligible. “He was a good guy on our team, we liked the heck out of him”.

There are a few valid reasons for the Seahawks’ slow starts.

Protection: The Lions’ much-maligned offensive line has to do a better job of protecting Stafford and opening holes for the running game. “I think we’ve kind of always done that, but we don’t need to only do that”. Now, it’s Lynch who will be absent Monday. And either way, Fred Jackson will be the pass-catching back and makes for a super-low-end flex play.

The Seahawks then turned to rookie Thomas Rawls. The concern is that the Lions have too many tendencies and tells, making it easier for defenses that have spent the time studying game film to know what’s coming based on formation, down, and distance.

“We sure would love to come out and start better than we’ve started, ” Seahawks offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell said.