Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch missed last week's game with an abdominal injury, at which point there was reason to believe that he was going to be out for an extended period of time. 

That came to fruition on Wednesday when it was announced that Lynch would undergo hernia surgery with a time table to return to action of about a month. 

Lynch has been a member of the walking wounded club all season. This latest injury will cost him some important time for a Seahawks squad that's currently on the outside looking in when it comes to the NFC Playoff picture.

At 5-5 on the season, Seattle is now going to have to rely on impressive rookie Thomas Rawls to hold down the fort. He tallied 250-plus total yards and two touchdowns in the Seahawks win over the San Francisco 49ers last week. The undrafted first-year player will have to continue performing at a high level in Lynch's stead for Seattle to earn a playoff spot.