Two days ago, the Saints applied multiple big hits to Seahawks receiver Percy Harvin, eventually knocking him out of the divisional-round game with a concussion. For now, it’s too early to know whether Harvin will be cleared to play on Sunday against the 49ers.
Per a league source, Harvin engaged in baseline testing on Monday, which involves comparing his current cognitive abilities to prior measurements taken at a time when he was not concussed. He’ll have to be cleared by an independent neurologist both to practice and then separately to play.
At one point, it was essentially presumed that a player who suffers a concussion would miss one game. At some point, the presumption flipped, with players routinely returning from a concussion in a week.
Harvin has an extra day, given that the Seahawks played on Saturday. While those who know him would be very surprised if Harvin doesn’t play, the decision is and will remain out of his control.