Reinforcements are on the way for a Seattle Seahawks team that squeaked past the winless Tampa Bay Buccaneerslast week.
Schein: What's holding Seattle back
Coach Pete Carroll said Friday that wide receiver Percy Harvin is the "best he's been" since undergoing hip surgery in early August.
Harvin had been on track to return a couple of weeks ago, but he suffered a setback when his hip reportedly "flared up" in practice. Carroll hopes to have him back on the practice field next week.
"He had another excellent day. He's not ready to play this week," Carroll said Friday, per The (Everett, Wash.) Herald. "All of the signs are really encouraging. He feels good. He's not having any issues after he works out the next day, so I think we've built up enough days here to take a real good positive step. I don't know what that means in terms of playing next week, but we're hoping he'll be able to get some extra work and really jump back into it."
Harvin isn't the only key offensive player close to a return. Both starting offensive tackles, Russell Okung and Breno Giacomini, got full workloads in Friday's practice for the first time in over a month. Carroll expects them both to be full speed for Week 11's tilt against the Minnesota Vikings.
The Seahawks have had trouble dispatching weaker opponents since their 45-17 blowout victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 3, but they still have managed to compile the NFC's best record. With Harvin and three starting linemen coming to rescue a struggling offense, this team is going to be difficult to topple at peak strength in December and January.
The latest "Around The League Podcast" previews every Week 10 game, including the heavyweight battle between the Carolina Panthers and San Francisco 49ers.
