12:00pm: There’s a growing belief that Harvin may have not just played his final game for the Bills, but perhaps his final NFL game. As you may remember, the wideout was previously considering retirement, and this injury may convince him to hang it up.
Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com writes that Harvin could be released from the IR, or else the wideout would receive the rest of his $2.9MM base salary.
9:45am: The Bills roster is set to lost an offensive weapon, but they’ll be getting some reinforcement on defense. The team announced this morning that they’ve placed Percy Harvin on the injured reserve, ending his season. To take his spot, the Bills have activated cornerback Leodis McKelvin.
Harvin joined the Bills on a one-year, $6MM deal in March, but the veteran had struggled to stay on the field this season. Battling through a persistent hip injury, the 27-year-old only appeared in five games, compiling 19 catches for 218 yards and a touchdown. Harvin also had five kick returns and five rushes, proving that he still possessed his versatility despite his age and injury.
It ended up being a knee injury that ultimately forced the wideout of the lineup for the rest of the season. The Bills could now be seeking help at the position, especially since Sammy Watkins is banged up and Marquise Goodwin was recently placed on the IR.
McKelvin will be returning to the Bills almost a year after he broke his fibula in a loss to the Dolphins. His recovery was briefly delayed by a setback, requiring a pair of additional surgeries. The former first-round pick has spent his entire career with Buffalo, collecting 243 tackles, 11 interceptions, and four forced fumbles in 89 career games. The 30-year-old should help out a secondary that currently ranks 22nd in passing yards allowed per game.