It was reported earlier today that Marshawn Lynch would only miss two weeks, but after the latest update, ‘Beast Mode’ is looking towards a late December comeback.
#Seahawks RB Marshawn Lynch is set to have surgery on his sports hernia tomorrow morning, source said. Expected to be out about a month.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) November 25, 2015
With this very unfortunate news, Seattle’s front office must be second guessing awarding Lynch a two-year, $12 million extension. The 5-time Pro Bowler is 29, which is dangerously close to the scary number of 30 for a running back.
However, Seattle appears to have a gem in undrafted rookie Thomas Rawls.
In Lynch’s place, Rawls has rushed for 604 yards on 101 carries, with 209 of those yards coming this past Sunday against San Francisco.
Rawls has looked so great that head coach, Pete Carroll, felt the need to compare him to a certain hall of famer.
“I’m going to get hammered for this one,” Carroll said. “There’s some Earl Campbell plays in there — his mentality about going after it. Remember how physical he was and how fast he was. Now he had some phenomenal plays — the highlights that we can’t get out of our brain. But that combination — let him try to live up to that. I’ll challenge him with that.”
With such high praise for Rawls, one must wonder if this is the end for Lynch.
Lynch is set to earn $9 million next year, while Rawls will make $525,000. Also, one guy is nearing 30, while the other guy is young and learning as he goes.
This will be a decision Seattle will have to make in the off-season, but if Rawls keeps playing like this, it’ll make the decision much easier.