Marshawn Lynch won’t play against Minnesota Sunday. / Drew McKenzie, Sportspress Northwest

In a surprise move, RB Marshawn Lynch informed the Seahawks Friday after practice that he was unable to play in an NFC wild card game Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings. Lynch, who rejoined the team earlier this week for three practices after sitting out nine weeks following sports hernia surgery, did not travel to Minneapolis.

Lynch was listed as a full participant in practice all three days after he rejoined the club, creating optimism that he would be able to go against the Vikings. But he was downgraded to questionable on the afternoon injury report.

Friday morning, head coach Pete Carroll told KIRO 97.3 FM that “Lynch is going to play.” But after Friday’s practice, Carroll backed off, saying, “We’ve got to make sure he’s okay. He looked good during the week and did some really good stuff. Now we’ll have to wait and see.”

Sometime between Carroll’s after-practice comment and the team’s buses to Sea-Tac, Lynch determined that he wasn’t ready. A news photographer covering the departure from team headquarters in Renton tweeted Lynch’s absence.

So the Seahawks will move ahead with running backs Christine Michael and Bryce Brown. Michael has carried 39 times for 192 yards since rejoining the Seahawks late in the season. Brown has carried 25 times for 72 yards.

Lynch played in seven games earlier, occasionally being spelled by rookie Thomas Rawls, before opting for sports hernia surgery. He carried 111 times for 417 yards. Rawls then went down for the season with an injury, prompting the Seahawks to re-sign Michael, whom they traded to Dallas in September.

The Seahawks defeated Minnesota 38-7 Dec. 6 and are a five-point pick over the Vikings Sunday. The game kicks off at 10 a.m., PT.