Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch, who will miss his seventh straight game following hernia surgery, is expected to return to practice Monday as the team prepares for the playoffs.
Head coach Pete Carroll indicated Friday that Lynch should be rejoining the Seahawks next week.
“I have an expectation of that,” Carroll said of Monday’s return. “Let me say I’m anticipating that.”
Lynch has missed the past six games after undergoing surgery to repair an abdomen injury on Nov. 25. He will not play Sunday in the regular-season finale against the Arizona Cardinals.
Lynch has not returned to the team’s facility and continues to work through his rehabilitation in the San Francisco Bay Area.
“The reports that we got, the latest update (Friday) is that he’s really doing well, and he’s done about all he can do at that end of it,” Carroll said. “That’s great to hear. We’ll see what that means in the next couple of days. But he’s really tried to get back as soon as possible. He’s having the kind of success and the work that’s not setting him back. So we’re hoping that means he has a chance to get back to us next week.”
Seattle (9-6) will open the playoffs on the road in the first round at either Green Bay, Minnesota or Washington.
Lynch, 29, has 417 rushing yards and three touchdowns in seven games this season.