Marshawn Lynch injury: Beast Mode to have surgery, miss at least a month

Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch is expected to miss at least a month after having surgery to repair a sports hernia, according to reports.

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported on Monday morning that the fear was that it would require surgery, then confirmed on Tuesday that's the case.

Pete Carroll talked to reporters on Wednesday.

"He's had the surgery and he's going to stay back east for a number of days until it's time to come back and we'll see what happens when he returns. The doctor was very optimistic about a quick recovery and that could mean within three or four weeks, something like that, there's a chance. So we'll see how that works out. Other than that, everything went very well."

When asked if Lynch could miss the rest of the season, Carroll replied: "There's a chance, but we don't expect that to happen. The doctor projected that he could get back pretty quickly, so they fixed everything that was wrong and the doctor was very optimistic about his return."

The plan is to keep him on the active roster, with an eye on getting him back in time for the playoffs.

As Dr. Jene Bramel put it on twitter earlier this week, "recovery from core abdominal surgery is usually in 4-to-6 week range. 6 weeks [would put him out to] Week 17. Surgery now may be best chance of healthy Lynch for playoffs."

Lynch has rushed 111 times for 417 yards and three touchdowns this season but has been hampered by shoulder, hamstring, and now abdominal injuries, and frankly hasn't really looked like himself for much of the year. In his place, Seattle will lean on Thomas Rawls, Fred Jackson, and likely Derrick Coleman and Bryce Brown. This is obviously not ideal, as Lynch has been the motor that powers the Seahawks' offense for the past few seasons, but getting him healthy for a playoff run is better than trying to get by with Lynch constantly dealing with this injury over the next six games.

For now, the weight of missing Lynch will also fall on Russell Wilson. Last week, he responded to Lynch's absence with his best game all season, so hopefully that will carry forward to the huge matchup with the Steelers on Sunday.