Seahawks’ Marshawn Lynch tells ESPN: ‘I’m ready’ for Carolina game
Jan 15, 2016, 8:10 AM | Updated: 9:30 am
Marshawn Lynch hasn't played since Nov. 15, which was 10 days before he had abdominal surgery. (AP)
(AP)
BY
Former Seattle Sports Lead Editor
Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch gave the strongest indication yet of his availability for Sunday’s playoff game against Carolina in a text message to ESPN that read, “I’m ready.”
Lynch’s text came during an exchange with ESPN personality Kenny Mayne, who told “Brock and Salk” Friday that it was, in fact, in the context of Lynch’s health and availability. Mayne said he asked for and received permission from Lynch to quote him.
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As usual, Lynch has not spoken to the media at-large this week.
He was a full participant in practice both Wednesday and Thursday, which is typically a good indication of a player’s readiness to play. However, Lynch practiced without limitation all last week and was seemingly on track to play after missing the final seven games of the regular season due to an abdominal injury that required surgery. But Lynch told the team just before it left for Minneapolis that he didn’t feel like he could play.
Seahawks coach Pete Carroll has stressed all week that Lynch is “day-to-day,” perhaps wary of assuming anything about his health after last week’s turn of events.
“We’re doing it day-by-day,” Carroll said again during his weekly interview on KIRO Radio 97.3 FM, which aired Friday morning. “We’re trying to see how he responds to each day and see how if he can find his confidence where he can get after it. He’s working really hard at it. He’s trying his best and we’ll see how that goes when it gets closer to game-time.”
Carroll said Wednesday that Lynch seems “encouraged” about his availability. Later in the day, offensive coordinator said Lynch had “a little bit more pace, a little bit more tempo to him” than he did at the end of last week.
“He looks good. I can’t judge each and every day, but probably one of the best days that he’s had out here today,” Bevell said. “He’s in there, he’s moving around, he’s making more cuts, probably a little bit more tempo to it as well. We’ll just continue to go day-to-day with it.”
Bevell’s “day-to-day” comment fell in line with what Carroll had been saying about Lynch’s status not being certain. But Lynch’s “I’m ready” assertion would seem to erase any remaining doubt about his availability.
Note: Carroll told KIRO that fullback Will Tukuafu is unlikely to play Sunday. Tukuafu injured his hamstring against Minnesota and didn’t practice Wednesday or Thursday.
