The Seattle Seahawks were not expecting to get Percy Harvin back this season after the wide receiver played just one game this year, but an unexpected development has the star at practice and expected to play this weekend. Harvin has barely been seen or heard from this season thanks to hip surgery, but a return for the division playoff round could be what Seattle is looking for.
Pete Carroll was hesitant to discuss Harvin's status last week, but the receiver has been practicing all week and his condition looked positive after Tuesday. Carroll noted that right now Seattle plans to mix Harvin in slowly to avoid any setbacks, but remained positive that he could be in the lineup when the team faces the New Orleans Saints at home.
"He has worked really hard to get back but has not been able to make it over the hump. He's going to need the offseason to really get back to full strength. We wil have an extraordinary football player ready to go next year. We will take a look this week and see where we are and then know more," head coach Pete Carroll said, via ESPN.com.
Harvin's season certainly did not go as the Seahawks were hoping. The team traded a first-, third-, and seventh-round draft pick to get the receiver from the Minnesota Vikings and in return he has caught one pass and returned one kickoff all year. He immediately underwent surgery on a hip injury when he arrived in Seattle. But that is all in the past because having Harvin back for the playoffs is very important. Quarterback Russell Wilson understands just how much Harvin can provide.
"He's ready to go I think, but we'll see. You've got to listen to the trainers and Coach Carroll and how he's feeling and that just adds another element to our game," Wilson said, via ProFootballTalk.com. "If we can get Percy Harvin, he's explosive as can be, he has a great knack for the game, he's very physical, loves to just make big time plays. So if we can get him out there, that will be great if that's the case."
The Seahawks certainly did not miss Harvin during his time out. The team still managed to earn the No. 1 seed in the NFC without him, but getting one more deadly receiver in the mix against the Saints would take their offense up a level. If Harvin is ruled out for the playoff game, the Seahawks will of course carry on like normal. Carroll is not confirming anything.
