Most people assumed that, if the Seattle Seahawks were to make the playoffs again this season, they’d need the help of star running back Marshawn Lynch. While not having him in the lineup consistently this season hasn’t been a complete crutch, it appears the Seahawks won’t have a choice in the near future.

Lynch is believed to have a sports hernia, and is visiting a specialist on Monday to determine if he’ll need surgery, according to NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport. If that is the case, Lynch would be forced to miss the remainder of the Seahawks’ 2015 regular season — and could be forced to miss playoff action as well.

So far this season, Lynch has played in seven of the Seahawks’ 10 games, averaging a measly 3.8 yards per carry — one of the lowest totals of his illustrious NFL career. Seattle, however, has gotten by with the help of undrafted rookie Thomas Rawls, who has emerged as a legitimate starter capable of carrying the Seahawks’ running game.

It’s possible the specialist could determine that the injury can wait, allowing Lynch to the return to the lineup as soon as next Sunday. However, seeing as he’s been sitting out and in considerable pain, it wouldn’t come as a surprise if he’s forced to go under the knife and miss time.

We’ll see what happens, but it doesn’t look good for Lynch’s 2015 outlook.