Vikings’ Harvin works out, doesn't practice

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. — Minnesota Vikings leading receiver Percy Harvin's status seems to still be in doubt after he did not participate in practice on Wednesday to test his sprained ankle after implying that he would.
Earlier in the day, Minnesota coach Leslie Frazier said he wasn't sure if Harvin would return to practice, but Harvin followed up about 30 minutes later saying he "definitely will" try to do some limited work to see how his ankle would respond. Yet, as the Vikings took the practice field outside, Harvin wasn't with his teammates during the portion of practice open to the media. The team's injury report later in the afternoon said he did not participate.
"I'm itching to get back out there," Harvin said before practice.
Harvin, Frazier and the team are still holding out hope that Harvin, who has been out since injuring his left ankle in three places on Nov. 4 against the Seattle Seahawks, will still be available to play Sunday when the Vikings (6-4) travel to face the Chicago Bears (7-3). Offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave said Harvin was out early doing work with head athletic trainer Eric Sugarman but that he wasn't with the team during drills.
Harvin, who is tied for eighth in the league with 62 catches, has missed one game and had an extra week of rest thanks to Minnesota's late-season bye. The team is going to spend this week determining whether he's game-ready.
"It's still a little stiff in certain areas, a little swelling," Harvin said. "It's just not major swelling. So, it's to the point now where I feel I can do a little something."
When the team returned from its week-long break Monday, Frazier was hopeful Harvin might practice on a limited basis Wednesday, and Harvin was seen walking through the locker room without much of a limp.
Harvin spent the bye week in town rehabbing, saying he "ran through pretty much every machine I think we have in there."
Harvin played through the pain even after injuring the ankle in the third quarter against the Seahawks. He had his ankle re-taped and returned to the game but was missing his usual explosiveness. His return against Seattle, at less than 100 percent, has him curious what he will be able to do when he returns.
Harvin led the league in receptions before missing the game prior to the bye and was considered one of the main reasons for Minnesota's surprising start to the season, when teammates were touting him as a possible MVP candidate. He is second in the league in all-purpose yards with 1,347, behind only to Green Bay's Randall Cobb. Harvin is averaging 35.9 yards per kickoff return and has five total touchdowns.
Without Harvin, Minnesota's offense fared well before the bye, with quarterback Christian Ponder going 24 of 32 passing for 221 yards and two touchdowns against Detroit. Ponder completed passes to 10 different receivers – including himself – but hopes to have the top playmaker in the passing offense back for the Chicago game.
Against the Lions, Rookie Jarius Wright saw his first regular-season action and had three catches for 54 yards and a touchdown.
"I think we have a lot of depth at a lot of different positions," Ponder said. "But Percy's obviously a huge part of this offense and when he was playing, we were talking about him being the best player in the league. So, we would like to have that guy on the field still."
Receiver Michael Jenkins returned on a limited basis after missing practice Monday with a sore foot. Starting left guard Charlie Johnson was listed as not participating with a toe injury, though he was seen during the open part of practice in uniform.
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