RENTON, Wash. — Percy Harvin’s season of frustration could become a one-game redemption story if the wide receiver can help the Seattle Seahawks to a victory in Super Bowl XLVIII against the Denver Broncos.
Harvin again was a full participant in practice Thursday, his second since suffering a concussion in the Divisional Playoffs against the New Orleans Saints on Jan. 11.
That injury held Harvin out of the NFC Championship Game against the San Francisco 49ers, which the Seahawks won 23-17 to advance to the Super Bowl.
“I feel good,” he said. “It was good to get back out there with my guys. I don’t think anybody is not feeling good going up to the most prized possession in our profession — the Super Bowl. Everybody is feeling good. We had a good first couple days of practice. We’re looking forward to competing.”
Assuming there are no setbacks, Harvin would play for just the third time this season — one regular season game on Nov. 17 against his former team the Minnesota Vikings while dealing with a hip injury, and then against the Saints.
“Frustrating,” Harvin said of having to watch the game against the 49ers from the sideline. “That’s just the word I would use for this whole year. Watching every single game was frustrating.”
But now, since the Seahawks won, he’ll have a chance to play in his first Super Bowl. The Seahawks thought they would need Harvin to get there, which is why they traded three draft picks to get him from Minnesota in March and then signed him to a six-year contract that could pay him as much as $67 million, with $25 million guaranteed.
Now, he at least has a chance to help the Seahawks win a title, which could at least salvage a little bit of the season for Harvin, though he resisted that idea Thursday.
“I’m not trying to save any season,” he said. “I’m trying to go out there and win the Super Bowl. I’m not trying to save anything or be a hero or anything. I’m just going out there to prepare to play a game the way I know how to play.”
Harvin admitted the year has been a rollercoaster, but also a “blessing.”
“I wouldn’t take anything back that’s happened this year,” he said. “It’s made me a stronger person. Like I said, it’s definitely been frustrating for a lot of people, not only myself, but for my teammates. (Doug Baldwin), some of the guys who play my position, coming in and out, not knowing whether I’m going to be at practice, it was definitely frustrating. But like said, it’s over with now and we get a chance to play for the Super Bowl, so it’s all in the past.”
Harvin made just one catch in the regular season and had one kickoff return. But each helped lead to touchdowns in a win against the Vikings, and Seattle coaches are excited about what he could add if he can play against Denver.
“it’s obvious when he’s on the field the impact he can have on game,” said offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell. “We want to give him every opportunity and I’m sure he wants it as well.”
It looks like he might get that chance.
— WR Doug Baldwin sat out Thursday’s practice with a hip injury suffered against the 49ers. Baldwin said before practice that his hip feels good and it is expected he will be able to play in the Super Bowl.
— RB Marshawn Lynch sat out Thursday’s practice with a knee injury but is fully expected to play in the Super Bowl.
— DT Brandon Mebane was limited in Thursday’s practice with an ankle injury, but he is expected to play in the Super Bowl.