The Seattle Seahawks will officially begin the 2013 season without one of their biggest offseason signings. The team put a lot of money into wide receiver Percy Harvin and now they will not get to see it pay off until maybe the end of the 2013 season if they are lucky. So as Harvin prepares to have surgery, it is next-man-up time in Seattle and Golden Tate is ready.
The Seahawks announced that Harvin will have surgery to repair a torn labrum in his hip. While there is no timetable for the wide receivers return, it is speculated that he could possibly miss the entire season, depending on how his rehab progresses. Harvin is currently on the physically unable to perform list, leaving the Seahawks with a few options.
If Harvin stays on the list past the Aug. 31 deadline, he will have to miss the first six games of the season and will then have a five week window to practice and rejoin. If he does not rejoin the 53-man roster, he must sit the entire season. At the earliest, Harvin could be back in Week 7 or at the latest he could be back in Week 15 or not at all.
Losing Harvin is not a death sentence to the Seattle offense. They were fine before him, they will be fine without him. With Harvin gone, Tate is ready to be the go-to guy for Seattle.
"As a professional football player injuries are part of the game," Tate said. "So when a team signs a guy they know they're taking a risk that could happen. Obviously we would be more dangerous with Percy, but with or without him I still feel like we have enough playmakers to succeed this year. I think coach Carroll has done a great job of building up this team."
Tate put up 688 yards with seven touchdowns last season and is only getting better. In his three years with the Seahawks, Tate's numbers only continue to go up, making 2013 a possible break-out year for the receiver. Tate will also likely be asked to step up as an option at kick returner. Seattle released Leon Washington after signing Harvin, leaving a hole in that part of the roster. Cornerbacks Jeremy Lane or Will Blackmon could also fill in.
Seattle already had one of the better receiving corps of the NFL last season. Harvin only made them more deadly. Tate is confident that the team will bounce back after the loss of Harvin, confident they do not lack for playmakers on the team. Seattle could very well be in the playoffs when Harvin is healthy, making a Week 15 key.
