Percy Harvin has been sidelined with an ankle injury for four weeks, but he’s recovering from a more severe injury than initially thought.
Harvin suffered a Grade 3 sprain of his left ankle against the Seahawks on November 4, according to a team source. A Grade 3 sprain is associated with a complete ligament tear, and the timetable for recovery is usually four to six weeks.
When Harvin first spoke to reporters following the injury, he said his ankle was sprained in three places, but did not talk about the torn ligament.
Harvin suffered the Grade 3 sprain when a defender landed awkwardly on his ankle. He underwent an MRI which confirmed the damage, but the team was optimistic that he could make a speedy recovery.
The team initially believed Harvin could return in three weeks, but he did not make as much progress as the team hoped. Harvin ran routes last week but still experienced discomfort in the ankle. Harvin was seen walking with a limp following the session, and the team held him out of Sunday’s game against the Packers.
Harvin is still dealing with inflammation in his ankle, and team doctors may see how his ankle responds to pain-killing injections this week. The injections limit pain by reducing inflammation, but the inflammation is also necessary in the healing process.
Harvin will attempt to practice Wednesday with the hopes of playing Sunday against the Bears in a matchup that has big playoff implications.
Dr. Silverman Comments
A grade 3 ankle sprain involves complete disruption of the ligament tissue.
All patients deserve an attempt at non-surgical treatment with ankle sprains, to see if they will heal them at the appropriate length. However, if not better by 8 weeks, he will need surgery to get back to his best.
A ligament is a tissue that connects one bone to another. The anterior talofibular ligament connects the fibular bone to the talus bone and stabilizes the ankle from twisting. When you have a Grade 3 sprain the ligament is completely torn. While all ligaments heal, they often heal at a dysfunctional length. Some people can accommodate. Others heal too long.
Harvin falls in that category. We will have to see how he does and hope rehab makes him stronger. If he can’t make it, he will need the ligament cut and shortened in a reconstructive procedure.
Related source: 1500 ESPN Twin Cities