What seemed nearly impossible 10 days ago is now 48 hours from being reality. Percy Harvin will play when the Seahawks host the Saints in the Divisional round of the playoff Saturday.
As recently as last Monday, Pete Carroll was hinting that Harvin might end up on injured reserve, but a workout that day changed his mind, and after practicing for the last two weeks, the receiver is set to make just his second appearance of the season for the Seahawks.
Asked if he was ready to go, Harvin simply answered, “Absolutely.”
Carroll added, “Percy’s playing. He’s playing in the game. We’re excited about him going and we’re excited for him. It’s been a long, long haul for a guy who’s such a great competitor and it means so much to. For him to have the opportunity to join us now is really exciting for him and for us to. We love to have him.”
Asked if there would be any limitations on Harvin in terms of snap count or keeping him off of kick returns, Carroll said, “He’s going. I told you if he’s going to go, he’s going, so he’s playing.”
Harvin echoed Carroll sentiment that he was ready to do everything asked of him, returns included.
“I’m feeling great. I had a good two weeks,” he said. “Thursday and Friday last week, then I came back this week, had no setbacks. I felt good, I was able to finally do all my cutting, getting out of my breaks, things like that. So it’s been great.”
Harvin admits he, like his coach, wasn’t sure if he would make it back after his surgically repaired hip flared up following his only game this season, Seattle’s Nov. 17 win over Minnesota.
“There came a time when I thought about maybe shutting it down, but the guys just kept giving me that positive energy I needed, and it all started to turn around for me and I decided I was going to give it everything I had from there,” he said. “Coach came to me last Monday with the whole IR thing, and I just looked at him and said, ‘Coach, I’m ready to play ball.’ So we talked to the doctors, just kept rehabbing, then I hit the practice field and felt pretty good.”
After playing in that Minnesota game, Harvin, who had surgery to repair a torn labrum in his hip during the summer, experienced swelling and had fluid build up. He credited the team for having patience with him during the whole ordeal.
“It was frustrating for a lot of people, and my hat’s off to this organization just for staying patient with me, so I’m just ready to make it all pay off,” he said.
As for joining a team that rolled to a 13-3 record just in time for the playoffs, Harvin said, “This team has already set the foundation, I’m just looking to jump on the bus and enjoy the ride.”
Harvin and Carroll know there are no guarantees Harvin will come back healthy from this game, but with the postseason here, he’s ready to go full speed and find out.
“It goes through my mind here and there, but I’m confident in myself,” he said. “Once I get to the game, I’m just going to cut it loose. I made all the cuts and did all the things in practice that I could do in a game, and I felt no limitations, no swelling came, no setbacks, so I’m going to go out there and give it all I have, and we’ll go from there.”
As for other injuries, Carroll said TE Luke Willson, who suffered a high ankle sprain in Seattle’s Week 17 win over Minnesota, will play. Kam Chancellor, who sat out Wednesday with a hip injury, practiced Thursday and will play, Carroll said.
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