Carroll has 'no hesitation' playing Lynch in Week 17

Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll said newly signed running back Marshawn Lynch will play in Sunday's game against the San Francisco 49ers. In fact, he's anxious to see how the beloved back performs in his first game in Seattle since 2015.

"I am as excited as the fans are," Carroll said, according to Gregg Bell of the News Tribune.

Both Lynch and fellow rusher Robert Turbin were signed on Monday with the Seahawks' top three running backs out with injuries. Carroll wouldn't declare a starting back, but commended both for their week of practice.

"Both Marshawn and Robert Turbin did a nice job and worked hard with us and fit right in. It's hard to imagine how it could be so seamless in terms of their learning and all but they're veteran guys and they get it and they did a great job," Carroll said, per Curtis Crabtree of Sports Radio KJR.

Lynch spent the past two seasons with the Oakland Raiders but hasn't played in a game since Week 6 of last year. He spent the entire 2019 campaign unsigned until the Seahawks came calling.

With such a layoff, Carroll said the team didn't bother trying to teach Lynch and Turbin the entire playbook. They focused instead on the game plan for Sunday night's game for the NFC West division championship.

"They handled everything. Really, they did," Carroll said, according to ESPN's Brady Henderson.