Seahawks Lose Key Linebacker Mychal Kendricks for Playoffs Due to ACL Tear

The Seattle Seahawks have been bitten by the injury bug to close out the regular season, and it's going to hurt them come January.

The latest member of the team to go down with an ailment is linebacker Mychal Kendricks, who has been ruled out for the playoffs after suffering what is believed to be a torn ACL on Sunday night against the 49ers.

Sources: #Seahawks LB Mychal Kendricks is believed to have torn his ACL. He’ll have an MRI to confirm, but a huge loss for Seattle as they march on into the playoffs.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) December 30, 2019

Kendricks will undergo an MRI Monday in order to confirm the initial diagnosis, but things certainly don't sound positive for the 29-year-old.

In his second season with the Seahawks, Kendricks featured in 14 games, logging 71 tackles, three sacks, an interception and a forced fumble. He featured in just four games last year during his debut campaign in Seattle.

With Kendricks' season all but over, Shaquem Griffin will likely step in as the starting linebacker in his stead.

Pete Carroll said Mychal Kendricks and Jaron Brown suffered knee sprains tonight. He wasn’t sure about their statuses for next week. He said Quandre Diggs has a good shot at coming back next week and that Luke Willson should be back after landing awkwardly on his hip Friday.
— Brady Henderson (@BradyHenderson) December 30, 2019

The Seahawks have lost a handful of key players of late, most notably their running back tandem of Chris Carson and CJ Prosise.

Now, Kendricks is set to join the two offensive weapons on the sideline for the remainder of the season, and the Seahawks will hope to survive without his veteran presence in the playoffs.