During his weekly appearance on 710 ESPN Seattle, Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said running back Marshawn Lynch will not return to practice this week.
"It's just a race against time right now," Carroll said. "I know he's going for it, so that's what's important."
Both ESPN's Chris Mortensen and Jay Glazer of Fox Sports reported that Lynch is in the Bay Area rehabbing from surgery associated with a sports hernia injury. Per Glazer, Lynch is rehabbing with MMA coach Tareq Azim "to get the fight back" mentally.
"He hasn't been in a fight for such a long time," Carroll said. "He's been in and out. It's been such a distraction for him. I'm sure he's just trying to get to the top of his game so when he comes back, he can help out."
Carroll did not provide a timetable, but the earliest Lynch could return is Week 17.
With their win over the Cleveland Browns Sunday, the Seahawks clinched a playoff berth. Christine Michael and Bryce Brown are expected to continue to be the primary ball-carriers in Week 16 against the St. Louis Rams.