As the Buffalo Bills prepare for their game in London against the Jacksonville Jaguars, they are preparing to be without several of their star players as one of them might be for much longer than the team expected. With Sammy Watkins and Tyrod Taylor battling injuries, all eyes are on Harvin and his future after reports surfaced he was considering retirement.
According to Mike Rodak and Adam Schefter of ESPN.com, the reports that Harvin is immediately contemplating retirement are false. The wide receiver is frustrated with his ongoing injuries as he currently deals with another hip issue, but he is not at the point where he is ready to end his career because of them. The Buffalo News was the first to report that Harvin was thinking about retirement. He did not make the trip to London as he will see a specialist about his hip injury. Head coach Rex Ryan confirmed that he did not believe retirement was being discussed, but he also did not know where Harvin's head was at right now.
"I'm not going to say anything more than what we said yesterday about it," Ryan said via ESPN.com. "I don't know where he is right now."
General manager Doug Whalen echoed those words saying he has not been in contract with Harvin this week and he is not sure what he is thinking right now. Whalen simply said Harvin was not playing for personal reasons. The absence of the wide receiver is not what the Bills need right now as Watkins has been ruled out for Sunday with ankle issues. That leaves Robert Woods, Charles Clay and Chris Hogan as the best receiving options.
The Bills are prepared to start EJ Manuel in place of Taylor. He did well in his first start of the season and is hopeful he can capitalize off the performance. However, missing Harvin, Watkins and Karlos Williams will make things tough on the quarterback.
"It's just life in the NFL, the best laid plans of mice and men," said offensive coordinator Greg Roman via the Buffalo News. "Injuries are a part of the game, we've been decimated by them, but we feel like we can adapt and survive and we just have to get through this period of time. We have plenty of other options and we have to play a style where we're not hurting ourselves with penalties and stopping drives that way. It changes the focus a little bit when you don't have some of your most explosive guys."
Manuel will rely heavily on LeSean McCoy in Week 7. The running back is going up against an inconsistent defense in the Jaguars and could have a big game as a result. Dan Herron will be his backup. Manuel will still take to the air, but the receiver who catches the pass is anyone's guess.