Around the NFL: Bills will get Harvin back

Percy Harvin is preparing to come out of retirement to rejoin the Buffalo Bills and reinforce their injury-depleted group of receivers.

Harvin was at the Bills’ facility meeting with team officials Tuesday, and his signing is dependent on passing a physical.

Staying healthy has been a career-long issue for Harvin, and eventually led to his announcing his retirement in April after an injury-shortened season with Buffalo. He had 19 catches for 218 yards and a touchdown in five games with the Bills before being sidelined by lingering hip and knee injuries.

Now the 28-year-old Harvin has the opportunity to fill an immediate need at a banged-up receiver position, and with the Bills (4-4) preparing to travel to play at one of his former teams, Seattle (4-2-1), on Monday. In a 41-25 loss to New England on Sunday, Buffalo opened without three of its four top receivers and then lost backup Brandon Tate to a possible concussion.

Replay trouble

A replay malfunction prevented a review of a fumble that resulted in the Carolina Panthers’ first touchdown against the Arizona Cardinals, a person with knowledge of the NFL’s handling of the matter told the Associated Press.

The call would have been overturned to an incomplete pass had the equipment been working, the person added Tuesday. That backs the account given Monday by Cardinals Coach Bruce Arians.

The play early in Sunday’s game set the tone for what became a 30-20 home victory for Carolina.

Injuries

Kansas City Chiefs running back Jamaal Charles is going back on injured reserve after developing swelling in his surgically repaired right knee, a person familiar with the decision told the Associated Press. The designation means the four-time Pro Bowl running back will miss at least eight weeks, so he could return for the end of the regular season and the playoffs. Charles only had 12 carries for 40 yards in three games this season.

Miami Dolphins safety Reshad Jones considered shoulder surgery last off-season but decided against it, and now he’s out for the season after aggravating his injury. “My shoulder has been messed up for about two years,” Jones said Tuesday. Jones had been playing with a torn labrum and thought he could continue despite the injury. But when he tore the rotator cuff in Week 6, surgery became mandatory.

Etc.

The Jets’ backfield was in serious motion Tuesday, with Knile Davis coming — and then going — and C.J. Spiller set to head to New York. Just a few hours after claiming Davis off waivers from the Green Bay Packers to bolster their running backs spot, the Jets reached an agreement with Spiller, a person with direct knowledge of the team’s plans told the Associated Press. ...

Washington Redskins left tackle Trent Williams has been suspended four games for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy. It’s his second four-game suspension, after testing positive multiple times for marijuana during the 2011 season. Williams will miss Washington’s games against Minnesota, Green Bay , Dallas and Arizona. He’s eligible to return to the team Dec. 5. ... Detroit Lions defensive end Armonty Bryant has been suspended three games for violating the NFL’s policy on substances of abuse. Detroit signed Bryant last month, after he was cut by Cleveland at the end of a four-game suspension for violating the league’s policy on performance-enhancing drugs. ...

Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Josh Huff was charged with possession of a 9mm handgun without a permit and having a small amount of marijuana after he was pulled over for speeding, according to a court complaint. Huff was pulled over on the New Jersey side of the Walt Whitman Bridge around 11 a.m. Tuesday. ... Coach Mike Zimmer is recovering from what the Minnesota Vikings have called a “minor medical procedure” performed the morning after the team’s loss at Chicago.