Seahawks’ Pete Carroll Anticipates Marshawn Lynch Returning For Playoffs

USA Today

The Seattle Seahawks are playoff bound once again with Pete Carroll and company recovering a rough first half of the season to get back on track for another postseason run. Although the Seahawks will be headed to the playoffs after Week 17, Seattle has taken a beating on the depth chart with running backs going down left and right.

First, it was Marshawn Lynch that had to undergo surgery due to an abdomen injury back in November. Lynch’s return to the field was up in the air for quite some time, but the consensus was he was done for the year.

After Lynch had gone down, Thomas Lawls shouldered the load in the backfield and proved to be a formidable replacement for the Pro Bowler. Unfortunately, shortly after Lawls began to make a name for himself, the backup suffered a season-ending knee injury.

Although Lawls is officially done for the year, it appears Lynch may be able to return for the postseason. Carroll anticipates Lynch getting back on the field in the coming weeks via ESPN:

“I have an expectation of that,” Carroll said. “Let me say I’m anticipating that.”

With Lynch potentially returning in time for the playoffs, the Seahawks’ chances of advancing should significantly improve. Seattle has already started to come together over the past few weeks with five wins in the last six games.

Coming into Week 17, the Seahawks will have somewhat of a statement game against the division rival Arizona Cardinals. The Cardinals have already clinched a first-round bye in the postseason and may decide to rest the majority of their starters in preparation for the playoffs.

At this point, the Seahawks are underdogs heading into the matchup with the Cardinals with a -6.5 point spread for Arizona via Sportsbook.ag.