Pete Carroll: 'We're being very careful with Percy Harvin'

Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll is in no rush to push Percy Harvin's recovery, despite the loss of Sidney Rice for the remainder of the campaign.

Wide receiver Harvin is yet to make an appearance for the franchise since joining them from the Minnesota Vikings in March.

Rumours last week suggested the 25-year-old was set to return during last Monday's 14-9 win over the St Louis Rams. However, even this Sunday's game with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers may come too soon.

Carroll told ESPN: "We want to make sure we don't go too far too fast with Percy. We're looking for the long haul in his recovery and we want to make sure we manage our way through that.

"We're being very careful. He didn't do a whole lot last week and it seems like it's best to keep him in that mode a little longer."

The Seahawks top the NFC West with a 7-1 record from their eight games so far.