Game changer? Percy Harvin scheduled to practice

From Clare Farnsworth, of Seahawks.com 

SEATTLE -- Word of the Day: Percy

As in Harvin, as in the multitalented player that coach Pete Carroll has been asked about multiple times every week this season – and often more than once during the same interview.

Well, there is finally some news regarding Harvin, who the Seahawks acquired in the March trade with the Minnesota Vikings.

"Percy is going to practice with us when we get back (Thursday) with the intention of playing in this next game," Carroll said during his weekly day-after Q&A session with the media. "And we'll see what happens. That's the intention and we've got to see how he goes.



"He's come to the point where we can go to that and we'll keep our fingers crossed for him. He wants to contribute and be part of this team. And he's going to do everything he can to be part of that."

The players are "off" Tuesday and Wednesday and will practice this week on Thursday and Friday as the Seahawks wait to see who will emerge from this weekend's wild-card playoff games as the Seahawks' opponent Jan. 11 at CenturyLink Field. As the NFC's top-seeded team, the Seahawks will host the lowest remaining seed – either the 49ers or Packers, who play Sunday in Green Bay; or the Saints, who play the Eagles in Philadelphia on Saturday.

Asked if anything has changed regarding Harvin, who had hip surgery Aug. 1 and has been limited to a handful of plays in the Week 11 game against the Vikings, Carroll offered, "He's going to practice this week. That's changed."

That fact contradicts national reports over the weekend that Harvin would be placed on injured reserve as early as Monday. That contraction will undoubtedly lead to reports that Carroll has been waiting to unleash Harvin in the playoffs.

"There's no game plan here. There's nothing behind this," Carroll said. "We've got a young guy who's trying to get back on the team and see if he can help his team win. And we'll see if it happens. There's no strategy to this or anything like that. We're just pulling for him, and if he can contribute that would be great."

Carroll wants this, because Harvin wants it so badly. He returned a kickoff 58 yards and also made a falling 17-yard reception against Vikings, but hasn't practiced since.

"It will be a great thing for him, first off," Carroll said. "This guy is a true competitor and he would do anything to play. He's been fighting for some time now, months and months, to try to position himself so that he could get back here. And to his credit, he has not given up on it.

"He's at a place where he has a chance. So we'll see what happens."

From Seahawks.com