The Seahawks’ biggest losses Sunday to Arizona were announced after the game. Head coach Pete Carroll said both of Seattle’s top running backs, Chris Carson and CJ Prosise, are out for the season. This came on the heels of Seattle losing another top back, Rashaad Penny to a torn ACL vs. the Rams two weeks ago.
Seattle’s answer to their running back woes came in the form of a running back all-too familiar for 49ers fans. Marshawn Lynch is back in Seattle for Week 17 and beyond according to his agent:
My son @MoneyLynch is back! Boom let’s go! @Seahawks #teamwass pic.twitter.com/rujxV1tbTu
— Doug Hendrickson (@DHendrickson41) December 24, 2019
Lynch last played in 2018 when he spent six games with the Raiders. The 33-year-old ran 90 times for 376 yards and three touchdowns a season ago. Now he’s back after nearly an entire season off.
The 11-year veteran is familiar with returning after a hiatus. He didn’t play in 2016 before returning to the Oakland Raiders in 2017 and 2018. Lynch was effective in 21 games with Oakland. He averaged 4.3 yards per carry on 297 attempts with 10 touchdowns on the ground.
It’s unclear how big his role will be after getting just a week of practice in, but his familiarity with quarterback Russell Wilson and head coach Pete Carroll should make him a quick enough study that he’ll see time against the 49ers.
San Francisco’s had trouble with Lynch in his career. He’s averaged 4.5 yards per attempt on 221 carries with seven touchdowns in 11 regular season games against the 49ers in his career.
However, he’ll be significantly less dangerous than he was in his prime, and the 49ers will likely see rookie sixth-round pick Travis Homer more often than they see Lynch.
Still, the man they call ‘Beast Mode’ being back in a Seahawks uniform will only electrify an already raucous crowd, and the 49ers will have to account for him when he is in the game.
Seattle also re-signed 2012 fourth-round pick Robert Turbin according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Turbin has also not been on a roster at all in 2019. He spent three years in Seattle, half a season each in Dallas and Cleveland, and three years in Indianapolis. He’s rushed for 3.8 yards per carry and nine touchdowns in 355 career carries.