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Seahawks RB Marshawn Lynch plauged by injuries

By The Sports Xchange
Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch. Photo by Jim Bryant/UPI
Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch. Photo by Jim Bryant/UPI | License Photo

RENTON, Wash., - Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch flew to Philadelphia to meet with specialist Dr. William Meyers regarding an abdominal injury that kept him out of Sunday's game against the San Francisco 49ers.

Lynch did not practice last week and "just wasn't able to get going" in pregame warmups, according to coach Pete Carroll.

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Carroll said they couldn't rule out the possibility the injury is a sports hernia that could require surgery.

Lynch will be evaluated on Tuesday but it's unlikely he'll be able to play this week against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

"(Surgery) could happen. I don't know that," Carroll said. "That's a possibility but the (intention) is to go back there for the evaluation to find out what's next. There are a couple choices, possibly, depending on what the doc feels is necessary. Then we'll just wait and see what that all means."

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Lynch suffered the injury at the end of practice on Nov. 12. He played that week against the Arizona Cardinals despite the injury, carrying just eight times for 42 yards and a touchdown. However, Carroll said the injury got worse as the game progressed.

Carroll had said Lynch was "questionable with a positive bend" heading into this week's game against the 49ers, but none of the stretching and work with the trainers before the game on Sunday could get him to a point of being able to play.

Lynch has been inactive three times this season for Seattle due to injuries. He had never been inactive for a game before this season, though he did not play against Cleveland in 2011 after his back seized up prior to kickoff.

Thomas Rawls, who rushed for 209 yards against the 49ers on Sunday, will take over as the starter as long as Lynch is unable to play, however long that may be.

Lynch has 417 yards and three touchdowns in seven games this season.

--The Seahawks benched Cary Williams late in the third quarter of Sunday's game in favor of backup DeShawn Shead at cornerback.

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Williams was signed this offseason to provide a veteran option opposite of Richard Sherman after the departure of Byron Maxwell in free agency.

While Williams hasn't been atrocious this season, he hasn't been great either by any measure.

Williams has struggled to fully grasp Seattle's cornerback technique and has made mental mistakes as well at times this season. He's taken more heat than his play has warranted, but ultimately his struggles still reached a breaking point Sunday when the team benched him in favor of Shead.

"There have been some plays that were made that we just wanted to see some improvement on, and see some carry over from weeks past. I thought it was time to give DeShawn a chance to see if he could do it," Carroll said.

While Carroll said they wanted to give Shead an opportunity, that opportunity never would have come about if not for Williams struggles.

The breaking point seemed to be the 36-yard pass to Vance McDonald in the third quarter.

Williams covered tight end Garrett Celek up the seam when he should have been on McDonald up the sideline. It resulted in the largest gain of the day for the 49ers' offense. Williams was immediately pulled and replaced by Shead for the remainder of the game. Marcus Burley assumed Shead's role in nickel situations.

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"It's just one of those things that happens when you're not playing well. It is what it is. Things happen," Williams said.

"I feel like I could be better and I just wasn't necessarily there today especially in the second half. ... Maybe I was overthinking it. Whatever it was. Just me being a professional I understand what it is and I still was there for me teammates in support."

NOTES: Center Patrick Lewis left Sunday's game midway through the fourth quarter due to an ankle injury and did not return to the game. Carroll said Lewis seems to be OK and has a chance to play this week against Pittsburgh. ... Receiver Doug Baldwin left late in the fourth quarter after a lineman fell on his ankle. ... Left guard Justin Britt left late in the fourth quarter due to a stinger. ... Right guard J.R. Sweezy left late in the fourth quarter due to a stinger. He missed one play and returned to the game. ... Receiver Paul Richardson's status won't be known until later in the week. He missed Sunday's game due to a hamstring strain. Carroll said they'll err on the side of caution with the injury. ... Linebacker Bruce Irvin will likely miss a second straight week as he recovers from a sprained MCL in his right knee. "It's going to be a pretty big recovery if he can get back this week," Carroll said. ... Cornerback Jeremy Lane will be added to the 53-man roster this week and is expected to play against the Steelers. He's spent the first 11 weeks on the physically unable to perform list after suffering a torn ACL and broken arm in the Super Bowl. He's practiced the last two weeks with the team.

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