Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Percy Harvin is one of the most explosive players in the NFL, but it might be a long time before anyone sees him do something amazing on a football field again.
Head coach Leslie Frazier announced on Wednesday that Harvin was placed on injured reserve with a severely sprained ankle that will force him to miss the rest of the regular season.
According to the official Twitter from the Minnesota Vikings: "WR Percy Harvin (ankle) has been placed on the Reserve/Injured list."
Harvin has not played since Week 9 after suffering an ankle injury, which was later reported to be a ligament tear by Tom Pelissero at 1500ESPN.com. He had planned to practice on Wednesday, but the team held him out of suddenly, claming the severity of the injury,
Before practice, quarterback Christian Ponder spoke about his top offensive threat.
"We'll see what happens," quarterback Christian Ponder said to the Associated Press. "I don't know what or when he'll be back. We're just focused on who's going to be out there, who's going to be practicing today."
Harvin left the game against the Seattle Seahawks in the third quarter after a defender hit his ankle and was later seen with a heavy limp. Since the injury he has only participated in one practice.
Reporters asked Frazier if any other issues were involved apart from the injury.
"I know that he wants to win like we do, and I'm sure he's going to do everything he can do to help our football team. We'll see where it goes," Frazier said.
This season Harvin has made 62 receptions for 677 yards and three touchdowns with one kickoff return for a touchdown, but has dealt with injury issues all season. He has 22 rushes for 96 yards and one touchdown and also scored a 105-yard kickoff return touchdown.
The Vikings' second-leading receiver is tight end Kyle Rudolph, who has 45 receptions for 412 yards and eight touchdowns. The next closest wideout is Michael Jenkins, who has 30 catches for 324 yards and one touchdown.
Without Harvin in the lineup, Frazier will turn to Jenkins as well as Jerome Simpson and
Devin Aromashodu, who have combined for 25 receptions and zero touchdowns this season.
Harvin started the season as an MVP-candidate after the Vikings went 5-2, but has slipped in the second half with the injury. During the month of October Harvin made 30 receptions for 368 yards and scored all three of his touchdowns. He also scored his one rushing touchdown during that span.
Harvin's most explosive games this season have come in Vikings losses. He had 13 receptions for 104 yards in a 23-20 loss to the Indianapolis Colts on Sept. 16 and made 11 catches for 133 yards in a 38-26 loss to the Washington Redskins on Oct. 14.
Quarterback Chriatian Ponder had a nice start to the season, but has greatly regressed in his second year as starter for the team. Playing without a fully healthy Harvin hasn't helped either.
According to ESPN Stats & Information, Ponder has a 75.6 completion percentage on throws to Harvin, but just 52.7 percent to everyone else. He has also thrown just two interceptions on throws to Harvin, as opposed to five to the rest of the team.
Minnesota's passing attack is the worst ranked in the league, averaging only 180 yards per game. Ponder has thrown for 2,305 yards, but has 11 interceptions and is only completing 63 percent of his passes.
In Sunday's 23-14 loss to the Green Bay Packers, Ponder looked lost and threw two interceptions while completing only 12-of-25 passes. The team has lost four of the past five games and two of three since Harvin was injured.
Over the past three years Harvin has been fairly durable, missing only three regular season games. The nine games this season are a career-low, as are his totals in yards and touchdowns. All three of Harvin's touchdowns have come in home games this season.
Harvin will be a free agent following the season and the Vikings have been reluctant to give him a contract extension. He expressed frustration during training camp and over the summer by asking the team for a trade, but later changed his mind.
Harvin has made at least two receptions in every game this season, but has only poster double-digit catches twice. He had a season-low 22 yards in a 20-13 win against Detroit on Sept. 30 and followed with two straight 100-yard games, including 108 in a 30-7 win over the Tennessee Titans.
The Vikings drafted Harvin with the 22nd pick in the 2009 NFL Draft out of Florida, after which he won the Offensive Rookie of the Year award. During his first professional season Harvin made 60 receptions for 790 yards and six touchdowns while also scoring two return-touchdowns.
Harvin won two BCS Championships while playing at Florida and was an NFL All-Pro and Pro Bowler in 2009 as a rookie.