After sitting out the New York Jets’ terrible performance last week, All-Pro cornerback was cleared for contact in practice for the first time since suffering a concussion and has declared himself ready to play Sunday in Miami against the Dolphins.
”The doctors cleared me, so I’ll be playing Sunday,” he said.
He has no more restrictions, and just to show how ready he is, Revis jokingly added: ”I can bang my head on a wall if I want to.”
Coach Rex Ryan was also optimistic about Revis’ chances of playing Sunday, but said he’ll lean on the team’s doctors before saying the cornerback will definitely be on the field in Miami.
”If it’s not the final hurdle, I don’t want to be saying something that isn’t true,” Ryan said. ”Hopefully he’ll play, but I guess we’ll see.”
Revis practiced fully Thursday after passing all required tests. He needed to be cleared by the team physician and an independent neurologist to participate in contact drills. Revis was injured Sept. 9 against Buffalo when he was accidentally kicked in the head by teammate Bart Scott while attempting a tackle.
The cornerback said he didn’t need to be re-evaluated after practice anymore since he was cleared medically, so barring a setback, Revis will be back in the Jets’ secondary on Sunday.
”I think you feel good when you have the best player on the field,” Ryan said. ”That can’t hurt you. … There’s only one Darrelle Revis. I know I feel great about it. It’s hard not to smile if he’s out there. You feel great as a playcaller.”
And it comes at a good time for the Jets (1-1), who take on the AFC East-rival Dolphins (1-1) in a game with some early importance.
”This is a must-win for us,” Revis said. ”We need this win. The expectations are high for us to go down there and get a win Sunday.”
