Seahawks’ Carroll: No setback for Lynch in practice last week

RENTON — Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll was insistent Monday that running back Marshawn Lynch did not suffer an injury setback last week in practice.

Lynch, Seattle’s star ball carrier, was expected back for Sunday’s wild-card playoff game against the Minnesota Vikings, which the Seahawks won 10-9. Lynch, who missed the previous seven weeks because of an abdominal injury that required surgery, practiced in full throughout last week, including Friday afternoon. But Lynch did not board the team flight to Minneapolis on Friday evening.

However, Carroll was adamant that Lynch did not suffer a setback.

“He just didn’t feel like he could go,” Carroll said during his press conference at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center. “He really didn’t have the confidence that he’d be able to go. This is his first surgery ever and it happens to be right in his core. You know what kind of runner he is and all the lateral things he does with his body that are so abrupt and so sudden. He needs to feel that he can do those things. Even though he could run fast and look like he’s moving, he didn’t have the confidence he could go out there and react to guys and do that. So there’s nothing we can do about that.”

Carroll said he’d have to wait and see how things go during the week to determine whether Lynch will be able to play in next Sunday’s divisional playoff game against the Carolina Panthers.

In other injury news, the only player who came away from Sunday’s game with an issue was fullback Will Tukuafu, who suffered a hamstring injury. The severity of the injury is not yet known. Defensive end Michael Bennett, who had to leave the game at one point because of a knee injury, only suffered a scrape and should be fine. Tight end Luke Willson, who missed the game because of a concussion, is expected back.

Check out Nick Patterson’s Seattle Sidelines blog at http://www.heraldnet.com/seattlesidelines, and follow him on Twitter at @NickHPatterson.