Seahawks RB Marshawn Lynch ruled out vs Vikings

Top 100 Players of 2015: Marshawn Lynch

By STEPHEN COHEN, SEATTLEPI.COM STAFF

Updated 11:47pm, Friday, January 8, 2016

Photo: Elaine Thompson, Associated Press

Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch talks to teammates on the sideline in the second half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Nov. 15, 2015, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch talks to teammates on the sideline in the second half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Nov. 15, 2015, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine ... more Photo: Elaine Thompson, Associated Press

A young Seattle Seahawks fans holds up a sign wishing well to injured Seahawks" running back Marshawn Lynch before an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 29, 2015, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

A young Seattle Seahawks fans holds up a sign wishing well to injured Seahawks" running back Marshawn Lynch before an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 29, 2015, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

Photo: Ted S. Warren, Associated Press

Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch watches from the sideline during an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers, Sunday, Nov. 22, 2015, in Seattle. Lynch did not play in the game. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch watches from the sideline during an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers, Sunday, Nov. 22, 2015, in Seattle. Lynch did not play in the game. (AP ... more Photo: Elaine Thompson, Associated Press

Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch, center, looks at his G*d-daughter, Lauren Hall-Lynch, left, as his mother, Delisa "Mama Lynch" Lynch, right, looks on before an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers, Sunday, Nov. 22, 2015, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch, center, looks at his G*d-daughter, Lauren Hall-Lynch, left, as his mother, Delisa "Mama Lynch" Lynch, right, looks on before an NFL football game against the San ... more Photo: Elaine Thompson, Associated Press

Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch stiff arms Arizona"s Patrick Peterson after a 10-yard gain in the first quarter of the Seattle Seahawks-Arizona Cardinals game at CenturyLink Field in Seattle on Sunday November 15, 2015. (Photography by Scott Eklund/Red Box Pictures)

Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch stiff arms Arizona"s Patrick Peterson after a 10-yard gain in the first quarter of the Seattle Seahawks-Arizona Cardinals game at CenturyLink Field in Seattle on Sunday

... more Photo: Scott Eklund, Seattlepi.com

Seahawks RB Marshawn Lynch ruled out vs Vikings

Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch did not travel with the team to Minnesota and will not play in Sunday"s NFC wild card playoff matchup versus the Vikings on Sunday.

The team issued a short announcement Friday evening:

"We have downgraded RB Marshawn Lynch to out. He did not travel with the team. Following our final workout Friday he felt like he couldn"t play."

Lynch had been listed as questionable on the team"s practice report released Friday afternoon.

Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll intimated Lynch would suit up on Sunday in a Friday morning radio interview with KIRO 97.3 FM.

"He"s going to play, and he"s looked really good in practice," Carroll said. "He"s practiced as hard as he ever has throughout the week just to prove to himself that he was right, I think, as well as everybody else. So he"s ready to go, and we are anxious to see him fit in."

But later in the day, Carroll told reporters the decision about whether or not Lynch would play would go right up until game time.

"I have not said yet that he"s playing," Carroll said. "I know that"s been out there, but I don"t know until we"ve finished the week. He looks really good, and we"re hoping so and very optimistic about that."

Lynch underwent abdominal surgery on Nov. 25, with his rehab lasting through the end of the regular season. He returned to practice this week and was a full participant on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.

The 29-year-old rushed for 417 yards and three touchdowns on 111 attempts during an injury-marred regular season.

In his absence, the Seahawks will have to rely on halfbacks Christine Michael and Bryce Brown.

Michael, the team"s top pick in the 2012 draft, rushed for 102 yards on 17 carries in Seattle"s 36-6 Week 17 victory over the Arizona Cardinals. That effort came four months after the Seahawks traded him to the Cowboys for a conditional draft pick. Michael was subsequently released by Dallas, then signed and released by Washington before re-signing with Seattle on Dec. 16.

Brown initially signed with the Seahawks as a free agent on Oct. 27 before being released and re-signed twice in the ensuing two months. The former Philadelphia Eagles back rushed for 72 yards on 26 attempts during the regular season, including a 1-yard touchdown versus the Cardinals last Sunday.

Visit seattlepi.com for more Seattle Seahawks news. Contact sports reporter Stephen Cohen at stephencohen@seattlepi.com or @scohenPI.

Source: http://www.seattlepi.com/sports/football/article/Seahawks-RB-Marshawn-Lynch-ruled-out-vs-Vikings-6747081.php