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When Percy Harvin underwent hip surgery early in training camp, even conservative estimates were for him to miss roughly the first 12 weeks of the Seattle Seahawks season. But according to numerous sources involved in the situation, it is possible he will play next Monday night.
Should Harvin display the necessary progress in practice, and should he, the team’s doctors and the experts who are overseeing his rehab and recovery in New York share a belief he was ready to play, then no one is ruling out he could take the field in Week 8.
As we reported in Week 1, Harvin was very ahead of schedule and responding at a rate that was surprising doctors around him. That has continued into October.
“I can’t put my hand on a Bible as we speak and say, ‘Yeah, he’s going to play next week',” said one source. “But there’s certainly a chance.”
The Seahawks have stressed to the player -- who they gave up multiple picks for and made the third-highest paid receiver in the NFL this offseason -- that they will take the longview to his recovery and not do anything they believe is rushed in any way, But considering the pace of his progress to this point, it may not be a rushed situation for him to return in some capacity eight days from now.
“Everybody has to be in agreement on it,” said a team source. “It’s not Percy vs. the team. It’s nothing like that. But if everybody feels good about it and the doctors think he is ready, then it’s possible he plays.”
The rules regarding Harvin’s return give the Seahawks ample flexibility, as he could practice for up to three weeks before they have to decide whether to activate him from the PUP list. Barring an unforeseen setback, he’s coming off that list, and possibly quite soon. Harvin is a dynamic talent who can change games as a running back, from the slot, on the outside or on special teams and the Seahawks, considered by many a Super Bowl favorite before the season, have already gone 6-1 without him.
