Percy Harvin Exits Retirement; WR Re-Signs With Bills

Percy Harvin has returned to the NFL.

Percy Harvin Exits Retirement; WR Re-Signs With Bills

The 28-year-old wide receiver is exiting retirement to rejoin the Buffalo Bills, Harvin’s agent confirmed to USA TODAY Sports on Tuesday.

NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported that the Bills will pay the wideout a whopping $1 million, including incentives, over the final eight games of the season. The one-year deal reunites Harvin and Buffalo less than seven months after he told the team he planned to retire.

Harvin, plagued by a hip injury, played five games with the Bills last season before he was placed on injured reserve in November.

“Percy is a guy that worked so hard,” said head coach Rex Ryan, via the team site. “It’s either full speed (or nothing), and sometimes you try to back him down a little bit, but that’s why last year he was so frustrated that he wasn’t able to contribute more to our team. He just needed some time away from the game to get healed up. So hopefully we catch lightning in a bottle so to speak and Percy is back to himself.”

Healthy again, Harvin now rejoins a Buffalo team in need of receiving help with Sammy Watkins (foot) out until at least Week 12, Greg Salas (groin) on injured reserve and Marquise Goodwin coming off a concussion.

Harvin was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings as a first-round pick (22nd overall) in 2009 out of Florida, and spent three seasons there before being traded to the Seattle Seahawks, with whom he spent one year. The Bills (4-4) will visit the Seahawks on Monday. Buffalo is coming off a 41-25 home loss to the New England Patriots.

His first year with the Vikings, Harvin made the Pro Bowl and was also named NFL Rookie of the Year. He won the Super Bowl with the Seahawks against the Denver Broncos in 2014.

With Buffalo’s bye coming up in Week 10, we will more likely see Harvin eased into action the following week against the Cincinnati Bengals. The Bills subsequently play the Jaguars, Raiders, Steelers and Browns.

Thus, there remain a few more games until it becomes evident whether Buffalo’s decision to re-sign the wideout will have truly paid off.

MIAMI GARDENS, FL – SEPTEMBER 27: Percy Harvin #18 of the Buffalo Bills rushes during a game against the Miami Dolphins at Sun Life Stadium on September 27, 2015 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)