Marshawn Lynch--and his mask--are back, Quandre Diggs inactive for Seahawks vs. 49ers
Marshawn Lynch—and his mask—are back.
The new-old Seahawks running back took a lap around the field’s perimeter, then another back from where he came, about 90 minutes before Sunday night’s NFC West championship game against San Francisco.
Lynch was active and ready for his first game for Seattle in nearly four full years, and his first in the NFL in 14 months since his season-ending core injury in Oct. 2018 while he was finishing his two seasons with Oakland.
Quandre Diggs was inactive. The Seahawks decided not to test his high-ankle sprain in a game that because of Green Bay’s win earlier Sunday could not get Seattle a first-round bye in the playoffs. The Seahawks hope their transforming free safety can use a second consecutive game off to heal his high-ankle sprain to perhaps play next week’s wild-card playoff game.
The Seahawks listed Diggs Friday as questionable to play. The Pro Bowl alternate has missed the last 1 1/2 games with a high-ankle sprain. Those usually take multiple weeks to heal.
Coach Pete Carroll said Friday it would take Diggs getting through “miraculous circumstances” to play.
Diggs has reformed the way Seattle plays defense since he arrived in late October in a trade from Detroit. His hard-hitting, far-ranging and aggressive play at the back of the defense has allowed the Seahawks to play more single-high safety coverage with strong safety Bradley McDougald closer to the line of scrimmage as more of a run-stopper and coverage man on underneath routes. That’s the way Carroll prefers to play. It’s the way Seattle played for Super Bowl years with All-Pro Earl Thomas at free safety.
That’s the way the Seahawks would like to play dangerous tight end George Kittle and San Francisco Sunday.
Lano Hill was poised to start again for Diggs, who got hurt two weeks ago in Seattle’s win at Carolina. Rookie Marquise Blair also got some snaps in the previous game at free safety.
The rest of the Seahawks’ inactive players against the 49ers were not surprises.
Pro Bowl veteran left tackle Duane Brown missed the game six days after minor knee surgery. Tight end Luke Willson was out with a new hip injury. Backup guard Ethan Pocic was out after a neck-nerve issue recently. Backup wide receiver Malik Turner missed the game with a concussion he got in last week’s home loss to Arizona.
The healthy scratches: backup edge rusher Dekoda Watson, a former 49er not as needed with Jadeveon Clowney returning to play from a core-muscle injury and the flu; and rookie defensive tackle Bryan Mone.’
