Marshawn Lynch Injury Update: Seahawks RB Out for Wild Card Game vs. Vikings

The Seattle Seahawks were hoping to get Beast Mode back for their first playoff game, but that will not be the case.

Marshawn Lynch, who has not played for the two-time defending NFC champions since Nov. 15 because of an abdominal injury, has been ruled out for Sunday's NFC Wild Card Game against the Minnesota Vikings, the team announced Friday.

With Lynch downgraded to out and Thomas Rawls sidelined for the rest of the year due to an ankle injury, third-string running back Christine Michael will get the start for the Seahawks.

Signs pointed to Lynch suiting up in the last few days. He was a full participant in practice Thursday for the second day in a row. However, John Boyle of Seahawks.com noted Lynch felt he wouldn't be able to play after Friday's practice.

Lynch was previously listed as questionable on Friday's injury report.

The Seahawks have found ways to win games without Lynch for most of this season, but Rawls played a big role in their success. Rawls eclipsed 100 yards three times in Lynch's absence, including a 200-yard game against the San Francisco 49ers on Nov. 22.

But with Rawls and Lynch out, the Seahawks will need to rely on Michael and fourth-string back Bryce Brown to carry the load in the frigid cold of Minnesota. Early forecasts indicate the high will be 5 degrees on Sunday in Minneapolis, so it would've helped for the Seahawks to have their bruising back.