RENTON, Wash. — Everyone knew it was a long shot and on Friday it became no shot: Seahawks receiver Percy Harvin has been ruled out of Sunday’s NFC Championship Game against the 49ers.
“He will not make it through the doctor’s protocol and will not be able to go,” Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said.
Harvin suffered a concussion late in the first half of last week’s NFC divisional playoff victory over the Saints. He jumped attempting to catch a pass and his head hit the turf in the end zone. He caught three passes in the game, only the second game Harvin played this season.
He began the year on the physically unable to perform list following hip surgery and played in only one regular-season game, catching one pass for 17 yards on Nov. 17 against the Vikings. He also returned a kickoff 68 yards in that game, but re-injured his hip and had to sit out until last week’s playoff game.
If the Seahawks beat the 49ers and advance to Super Bowl XLVIII at MetLife Stadium, Harvin is expected to be ready to return to action.
“It’s super disappointing for Percy first,’’ Carroll said. “He wants to play. You could see it. He played his tail off when he had the chance. It’s just an unfortunate circumstance.”
The Seahawks certainly were not blindsided by the news. They have learned to play, and win, without Harvin.
“Obviously we’d have loved to have Percy on the field because not only is he a great football player but he’s a great teammate and he’s been trying so hard to get back on the field,’’ receiver Doug Baldwin said. “We have more than enough and guys who are capable of getting the job done.’’
It looks as if the Seahawks will get back linebacker K.J. Wright, who had not played since Dec. 8 because of a broken foot.
“We’re really excited about that — an incredible recovery,” Carroll said. “To have surgery six weeks ago and now he’s playing, so many people did well … to get here. His mentality has been to play the whole time.”