RENTON — Percy Harvin will likely make his long-awaited debut for the Seattle Seahawks this Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings.
Harvin is listed as probable to play after practicing all week with the team. He was limited during practice on Wednesday but fully participated on Thursday and Friday and will likely suit up for the first time in over a year against his former team.
“I definitely think I’m ready to play,” Harvin said. “I’ve still got a lot of work to do, but I think I’m ready to start playing and getting packages in there and getting the ball more.”
Harvin hasn’t played since a Nov. 4, 2012, game against the Seahawks while he was with the Vikings. An ankle injury ended Harvin’s season and a hip issue this offseason required surgery in August that has kept Harvin sidelined ever since.
The team is waiting to make sure Harvin doesn’t have any negative effects from the week of practice but all indications are that he’ll play this weekend.
“He made it through the week just right,” coach Pete Carroll said. “He did everything that we asked of him. He was full speed on every opportunity. He looked great. We won’t load him up with too much and hopefully he can contribute and help us win.”
Harvin appeared in 54 games for the Vikings over the past four seasons before being traded to Seattle in March. He racked up 280 catches for 3,302 yards and 20 touchdowns as a receiver to go along with 683 yards and four touchdowns on the ground. Harvin’s former teammates wish the injury would have kept him sidelined a little longer.
“I wish it was one more week that he was sitting out. But no, I’m excited to see him. I’m excited that he can get back to doing what he loves to do,” running back Adrian Peterson said.
Carroll said Harvin was already pushing him to get him involved on kickoffs as well, but Carroll said that will likely have to wait a while longer.
Harvin even acknowledged it would be “crazy” to think he’d be able to do everything he’s been able to do in the past right away.
“I haven’t played a game in a year. I haven’t had the amount of practices or training camps that a lot of people have got,” Harvin said. “I have a lot of confidence in this coaching staff of getting me ready to play and I have all the confidence in the world in my ability and how I prepare.”
Harvin was placed on the physically unable to perform list prior to the start of training camp and underwent surgery on Aug. 1 to repair a torn labrum in his hip. He returned to practice three weeks ago for a few days before having some fluid buildup in his hip that needed to be drained. A follow-up MRI showed no structural issues and Harvin was activated from the PUP list Monday.
Notes: Fourteen players are listed as probable for Seattle heading into Sunday’s game against the Vikings. Carroll said C Max Unger and DE Red Bryant are cleared to play after missing last week’s game against Atlanta due to concussions. … T Russell Okung likely will be activated from the injured reserve list prior to Sunday’s game. Carroll said Okung and T Breno Giacomini would be game-time decisions. Giacomini is probable to play. … DT Tony McDaniel fully participated in practice Friday and is questionable with a hamstring strain suffered last week. … CB Brandon Browner is out with a groin injury.
