PERCY FAITH
Harvin, who couldn’t walk after loss to Vikes,
now appears set to play against Titans
PERCY HARVIN was unable to walk away without crutches from a matchup against his old mates in Minneapolis last Sunday, but he expects to take the field against the Titans this Sunday.
The receiver returned to the practice field Friday morning, something Rex Ryan seemed to think was a minor miracle.
The wide receiver injured his ankle late in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s overtime loss to the Vikings and hadn’t practiced all week, but he was a limited participant in Friday’s practice and officially is listed as questionable.
Ryan dubbed Harvin a game-time decision, but not only does the veteran believe he’ll play, he thinks he can take on a full complement of snaps.
“I did today pretty much all my cuts I think I’d have to do in a game, as far as coming out of my breaks and things like that,” Harvin said after practice. “It felt pretty good. I told all the coaches it felt good, and they said I looked good. “I expect to play without any limitations.” It came as a shock to Ryan that Harvin was able to run and cut so closely removed from what appeared to be a serious low ankle injury.
“The fact he’s out there is pretty amazing,” Ryan said.
Still, Ryan wou ld n’t comm it to Har v in playing i n Nashville against the Titans, who own the same, horrid 2-11 record as the Jets. Ryan says he’ll lean on the doctors and training staff for their diagnosis of the progress of Harvin’s ankle. “Obviously you’re not gonna put a player out there that can harm himself, that can’t defend himself,” Ryan said.
The dynamic playmaker had his second standout performance as a Jet against the Vikings, the team he played with for four seasons after they took him in the first round of the 2009 draft. He scored his first touchdown since being acquired in a trade with Seattle in midOctober, a 35yard reception in the first quarter. He finished with six catches for 124 yards and racked up 109 yards on four kick returns. That came after three lackluster games, which followed a breakout 11-catch, 129-yard game against the Chiefs on Nov. 2.
Harvin didn’t appear to be running at full speed during the portion of practice open to media, but he claimed he was.
“Yes sir,” he said. “Went through all the walkthroughs. Had a little bit of team plays each period. . . . I practiced, I felt fine. I expect to be on the field.”
FROM TRAINER’S ROOM: Muhammad Wilkerson (turf toe) practiced on a limited basis for the second straight day but is officially doubtful, and Ryan wasn’t sure if the defensive end would even travel. He’s missed the last two games. . . . S Antonio Allen (hand) returned to practice and is questionable. . . . TE Jace Amaro (concussion), G Willie Colon (knee), K Nick Folk (right hip), RB Chris Johnson (knee) and LB Trevor Reilly (concussion) are all probable.