Despite sprained ankle, Percy Harvin plans to play Sunday

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- The labels following Percy Harvin around these days are a lot different from the ones that plagued him when he joined the Jets six weeks ago. He's gone from divisive force to a player coach Rex Ryan calls "amazing" and "impressive" -- and maybe just a little bit crazy, but in a good way.

That's because though Harvin suffered a sprained ankle in Sunday's loss and missed practice as late as Wednesday, he was out there Friday morning, going through all his walk-throughs and a few team plays. Afterward, he insisted he can and will play against the Titans on Sunday.

No matter that anything he does likely will be window dressing on a 2-11 season, "I expect to be on the field," he said.

And now here's the crazy part: It just might work out.

"That's what he's been telling me the whole week," Ryan said about his wide receiver's consistent resistance to the notion that he might sit. "I think he's crazy and then he goes back out there and hey, there he is. He's doing good.''

Though Harvin is listed as questionable for Sunday, he said he felt no discomfort during practice and expects to handle a full load, noting, "I did pretty much all my cuts that I think I would have to do in a game. I should be ready to roll."

Understandably, Ryan was much more cautious.

"You're not going to put a player out there that can harm himself," he said. "The fact that this guy has been adamant about it and he was actually running some, cutting a little, it's been impressive, to say the least."

In a nightmarish season for the Jets, Harvin has been something of a dream. On Thursday, special teams coordinator Thomas McGaughey called him a game-changer, and he's shown himself to be consistent and adaptable. He has 16 kickoff returns for 443 yards, 25 receptions for 306 yards and 848 all-purpose yards since joining the Jets.

Harvin's attitude has gone a long way toward turning around his reputation. He said he's enjoying his teammates, "[loves] the whole organization" and wants to be there next year.

"I feel at home here," he said, and that bad baggage (there are at least two known instances in which Harvin got into physical altercations with teammates on the Seahawks) could become a thing of the past. Especially if he keeps impressing the people around him.

"I knew he was doing everything possible so he could try to play," Ryan said, "but this is over the top."

Notes & quotes: DE Muhammad Wilkerson (turf toe) is doubtful, CB Antonio Allen (hand) is questionable and TE Jace Amaro (concussion), G Willie Colon (knee), K Nick Folk (right hip), RB Chris Johnson (knee) and LB Trevor Reilly (concussion) are probable.

By Laura Albanese

laura.albanese@newsday.com@AlbaneseLaura

Laura Albanese is a reporter, feature writer and columnist covering local professional sports teams; she began at Newsday in 2007 as an intern.