Seahawks not expecting Marshawn Lynch to play Sunday.

It is still early in the week, but it looks as if the Seattle Seahawks will be relying on "Baby Beast Mode", rookie running back Thomas Rawls, and not "Beast Mode", Marshawn Lynch, when the Pittsburgh Steelers come to town in Week 12.


Adam Schefter‏@AdamSchefter
Seahawks not expecting RB Marshawn Lynch to be available Sunday vs Steelers. Awaiting word Tuesday on abdominal injury and possible surgery.

Per ESPN's Adam Schefter, the Seahawks are not planning on having Lynch available for them this Sunday. Lynch is currently in Philadelphia, PA seeing a specialist regarding his reported sports hernia. Surgery is still possible, which would sideline Lynch much longer than just Week 12.

The Seahawks were able to have success on the ground without Lynch in Week 11 with Rawls running the football. Rawls was able to collect 209 yards rushing and a touchdown against the San Francisco 49ers last week en route to a Seattle victory.

The Steelers will certainly have their hands full with Rawks and Russell Wilson, but if their defense has a strength it is their rush defense. The Steelers average only 93 yards on the ground per game, and are coming off a Week 10 performance where they held the Cleveland Browns to 15 yards rushing. This will certainly be a matchup to keep an eye on this Sunday, but it looks as if the matchup will be Rawls vs. the Steelers defense, and not Lynch.