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RENTON, Wash. - The first time the Seattle Seahawks go on offense next Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings, expect Marshawn Lynch to be back in the lineup at running back. Lynch returned to team headquarters on Monday after spending the last several weeks doing rehabilitation with a trainer in the Bay Area.
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"He's ready to go. He's in the program, going. Working and looking forward to getting in workouts with us today and tomorrow," head coach Pete Carroll said Monday. "... He's worked out in incredibly competitive situations getting physically ready to go and now we have to translate that to football. I'm not worried about having to work him into the system. It's been a while, but he'll be fine."
Lynch had surgery on Nov. 25 in Philadelphia to repair an abdominal injury that forced him out of the team's game with the Arizona Cardinals on Nov. 15. He then missed Seattle's game against the San Francisco 49ers on Nov. 22 before heading for evaluation and ultimately surgery.
Lynch missed the team's final seven games of the regular season while recovering from the procedure. He also missed two games earlier this season due to a hamstring injury.
Carroll hedged his comments in saying that they needed to see what Lynch could actually do on the practice field before making any final decisions. However, Carroll said they believe that Lynch could carry it 20 times against the Vikings next week if called upon and added he "anticipates" that Lynch will start.
"He feels good now, that's why he's back," Carroll said. "He wouldn't be here if he didn't feel like he could go. He's ready to rock. We'll just have to find out what it looks like. I really think it's going to be just fine, I'm not really worried about it at all."
--When asked Monday what was the biggest challenge the Seahawks faced this season, Carroll acknowledged that putting the crushing defeat in Super Bowl XLIX to the New England Patriots behind them was a real struggle.
Seattle came within one yard of winning a second consecutive Lombardi Trophy when Russell Wilson was intercepted by Malcolm Butler at the goal line with less than 30 seconds to play.
"We had to get through last year. We had to get through the finish of the season. There was no question that it had a big impact and we did it, we made it," Carroll said.
Safety Kam Chancellor held out into the start of the regular season in a contract dispute with the team and missed the first two games of the season, both losses for Seattle. After Chancellor returned, Seattle clawed back to .500 before blowing a 17-point lead and losing in overtime to Cincinnati and busting a coverage to allow the game-winning touchdown pass against Carolina in falling to 2-4.
In all four games, Seattle was unable to close out the victories despite having a fourth-quarter lead.
But the Seahawks turned around their season in the second half of the year. They finished 8-2 over the final 10 games of the season to grab a wild-card berth and a chance to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl for a third straight season.
While the Seahawks would have liked to have moved past the loss last February a little bit sooner, they'll roll into January playing their best football of the season.
"It just took us some time and I think we had some hangover from it," Carroll said. "Look at the history of teams coming out of the Super Bowl, how well are they doing the next year. It's a most challenging event to endure for a program and a staff and players and fans and all of that and I'm proud to say that we are still fighting and here we go again. Let's see what happens."
NOTES: Cornerback Jeremy Lane was the only injury of significance to come out of Sunday's victory. Lane suffered what Carroll called an oblique/rib injury and did not return to the game. However, Carroll said Lane didn't feel too bad on Monday and they believe there is a chance he'll be available this week. ... Strong safety Kam Chancellor (pelvis) was close to being able to play against the Cardinals on Sunday and is expected to be back this week. ... Left tackle Russell Okung (calf) was close to being able to play against the Cardinals on Sunday and is expected to be back this week. ... Right guard J.R. Sweezy (concussion) is feeling better and the team is optimistic he will be available this week against the Vikings. ... Tight end Luke Willson (concussion) is feeling better and the team is optimistic he will be available this week against the Vikings.
