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Bills GM Doug Whaley: Percy Harvin wants to play this season

Bills general manager Doug Whaley said wide receiver Percy Harvin wants to play this season.
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Buffalo Bills general manager Doug Whaley said wide receiver Percy Harvin wants to play this season, reports NewYorkUpstate.com’s Matthew Fairburn.

“From what I’m hearing, he’s leaning towards playing,” said Whaley, who expects to hear from Harvin about his future within the next two weeks. “The thing about the health was, when you’re playing at a certain level and you know your body — and these guys are highly trained athletes— for him, he had to work so hard every week to get to that level, and he wasn’t getting to that level, so it was frustrating for him.

“He was contemplating, ‘Can I play this sport anymore to the level that I’m used to and put the product out there that I want to be proud of?’ Since putting him on IR and going through all of this stuff, I think he’s gotten to the point now where he feels he might want to come back and play.”

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Harvin, who was placed on injured reserve in November, battled knee and hip injuries in 2015. The NFL Network reported in October that retirement was an option for the 27-year-old, who has not played a full 16-game regular season schedule since 2011 with Minnesota.

Harvin, a Pro Bowl selection in 2009, recorded 19 catches for 218 yards and one touchdown in five games for the Bills in 2015. 

He became a free agent at the end of the season.