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NFL roundup: Seahawks trade Harvin to Jets
The Seattle Seahawks have traded wide receiver Percy Harvin to the New York Jets in exchange for a conditional mid-round draft pick, according to multiple reports.
The trade is contingent on Harvin passing a physical, and the Seahawks will reportedly receive a pick between the second and fourth rounds in the 2015 NFL Draft.
Harvin is the Seahawks’ (3-2) most dynamic offensive playmaker, leading the team with 22 receptions for 133 yards this season to go along with 11 catches for 92 yards. However, he has yet to post more than 60 receiving yards in a game this season and was listed as questionable for Sunday’s game against the St. Louis Rams due to a thigh injury.
Harvin was signed to a six-year, $67 million contract with $25.5 million in guaranteed money after being acquired from the Minnesota Vikings for first- and seventh-round picks in 2013, but was limited to just one regular-season appearance last season following offseason hip surgery. He did return in the playoffs, and scored on a kickoff return to open the second half in the 43-8 victory over the Denver Broncos in the Super Bowl.
Offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell has been criticized for his heavy use of Harvin on jet sweeps, direct handoffs and other plays designed to get the ball in his hands near the line of scrimmage in lieu of establishing the Seahawks’ power ground game.
Harvin had three catches for no yards and three carries for minus-1 yard in last Sunday’s loss to the Dallas Cowboys in which running back Marshawn Lynch had only two first-half carries and 10 for the game.
Bevell said on Wednesday that he wanted use Harvin more as a vertical threat.
“Do we want Percy to get the ball in every way we possibly can, I think it’s obvious because we’re trying to do things to get him the ball,” Bevell said. “We’ve run him down the field on the play for the touchdown it got called back.”
Harvin had three potential touchdowns nullified by penalty in the Seahawks’ Week 5 victory over the Washington Redskins.
–Another day and another practice for the Detroit Lions without superstar wide receiver Calvin Johnson.
Rookie tight end Eric Ebron, tailback Theo Riddick, tight end Joseph Fauria and linebacker Travis Lewis also missed practice Friday. Fauria and Lewis have been ruled out, Ebron and Riddick are doubtful and Johnson is questionable for Sunday’s game against the New Orleans Saints.
The Lions are preparing for the Saints with the idea that Johnson probably won’t play — unless there is a miracle.
“I’ve been surprised before,” coach Jim Caldwell told mlive.com. “He’s an unusual guy. Just talking to him [Thursday] after practice, he’s feeling good and coming along.
“Miracles have happened.”
–Houston outside linebacker Jadeveon Clowney was back on the practice field and Texans’ coach Bill O’Brien said there is a “50-50” chance the No. 1 overall pick in the draft will play Monday night against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
On Thursday, O’Brien said he had “no updates” concerning Clowney, who did not practice. After Friday’s practice, O’Brien said Clowney would be a game-time decision.
“If he were to play against Pittsburgh, it certainly wouldn’t be for 70 plays,” O’Brien said. “It would be for a certain amount of plays.”
–Good news for the Saints; bad news for the Lions.
New Orleans tight end Jimmy Graham might return to action on Sunday against the Lions and play despite a shoulder injury.
Graham returned to practice on Thursday and told the Baton Rouge Advocate on Friday that he probably would be a game-time decision on Sunday.
“It’s an injury. It’s painful. If I am able to play, I will,” Graham said.
–Minnesota Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer was away from the team and missed practice as he underwent a “minor procedure,” according to team public relations manager Bob Hagan.
Zimmer, in his first season as head coach, is scheduled to return to the team on Saturday and plans to coach the Vikings at Buffalo on Sunday.
Zimmer, 54, was an NFL assistant coach for 20 years and was hired by the Vikings in January to replace Leslie Frazier. Most recently, he was defensive coordinator of the Cincinnati Bengals.
–Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo and running back DeMarco Murray are listed as probable for Sunday’s game against the New York Giants.
Romo, who missed practice Wednesday due to ankle and back injuries, returned to practice on a limited basis Thursday.
Murray, the league’s leading rusher who has six consecutive 100-yard games to start the season, was back at practice Thursday after sitting out Wednesday with an unspecified illness.
Giants cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie (back, hamstring) and linebacker Spencer Paysinger (hamstring) were limited participants Friday, leaving them questionable for Sunday. As expected, running back Rashad Jennings (knee) has been ruled out.
Rodgers-Cromartie entered the Giants’ game last Sunday in Philadelphia with an assortment of right leg injuries. He then left the game early with back spasms.
–As quarterback Robert Griffin III upped his practice regimen to include handoffs with the scout team, the Washington Redskins (1-5) are dealing with far more pressing injury concerns leading up to Sunday’s home game against the Tennessee Titans (2-3).
Second-year cornerback David Amerson was listed as questionable despite taking part in all of Friday’s session as he attempts to pass through the league’s concussion protocol. His availability is critical with the defense already without top cornerback DeAngelo Hall for the remainder of the season and with Tracy Porter ruled out again due to a lingering hamstring injury.
Griffin returned to limited practice Monday and slowly increased his work throughout the week, including going through the motions of handing off with the scout team during Friday’s team periods. Gruden has said Griffin will be the team’s starter when he is ready to return from the dislocated left ankle suffered during the first period in Week 2.
–Tennessee listed quarterback Jake Locker as questionable for the Titans’ game Sunday in Washington against the Redskins.
Locker is recovering from a right thumb injury, but his progress hasn’t been fast enough for coach Ken Whisenhunt to name him the starter on Sunday. Whisenhunt said Locker could be a game-time decision.
Locker was limited in practice on Friday. Quarterback Charlie Whitehurst took the majority of snaps with the first team with Locker doing very little, according to the Tennessean.
–Carolina Panthers wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin returned to practice, his first on-field action since clearing concussion protocol in his recovery from a head injury apparently suffered on a hard hit by Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Vontaze Burfict early in the second quarter of Sunday’s game.
Through six games, Benjamin has 31 receptions, and he leads all rookies with 416 receiving yards and four touchdowns.
The Packers are likely to be without cornerback Sam Shields, who did not practice Friday.
–Jacksonville running back Toby Gerhart will not play on Sunday when the Jaguars face the Cleveland Browns.
A right foot injury sidelined Gerhart for last week’s game against Tennessee and the Jaguars are taking a cautious approach to his recovery.
“He’s really improved, but I think it’s at the point now where if we give him these extra couple days, we’re hoping that it won’t be every week that it’s something that we’re dealing with,” Jaguars coach Gus Bradley said.
–Message in Cleveland received loud and clear.
Rookie running back Terrance West and the Browns’ leading rusher was banished to the inactive list last week because of what coach Mike Pettine declared poor practice performances.
On Friday, Pettine said West got the message and practiced better this week. West’s reward: being told he will be active this week when the Browns play the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Safety Tashaun Gipson also expected to play despite being listed as questionable with a thigh injury.
–The Cleveland Browns signed offensive lineman Ryan Seymour to the active roster from the practice squad after officially placing offensive lineman Alex Mack on injured reserve.
Mack underwent successful surgery to repair a fractured fibula on Thursday in Charlotte, N.C. The Browns said a full recovery is expected by the start of the 2015 season.
Mack started the first 85 games and played 5,279 consecutive offensive snaps to begin his NFL career, with the streak ending in the second quarter against the Pittsburgh Steelers last Sunday. A two-time Pro Bowl selection (2010, 2013), Mack was drafted by the Browns in the first round in 2009.
The Browns also signed defensive lineman Christian Tupou to the practice squad.
–The San Francisco 49ers signed safety and special teams player Bubba Ventrone to a one-year deal.
To make room on the roster, the team released quarterback Josh Johnson, who was signed Tuesday.
The 49ers signed Ventrone last week but then cut him Tuesday.
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