National Football League

Jets to decide on Revis by Saturday

Published Sep. 13, 2012 1:00 a.m. ET

foxsports

Darrelle Revis walked off the field thinking he just had a headache — until he started feeling a bit strange.

The New York Jets cornerback suffered what the team called a ''mild concussion'', the first of his football career at any level, and it caught him by surprise.

''It's been a fog, like being in a fog,'' Revis said Thursday, speaking about his injury for the first time. ''I've never had a concussion, so this is something you've got to get guidance from the training staff and the doctors.''

The Jets will make a decision on Revis' availability before the team travels to Pittsburgh on Saturday for their game Sunday against the Steelers.

''I feel good,'' he said. ''I feel pretty good. I feel like I could play this week, but there are some other procedures we need to do and guidelines we have to follow.

Revis has been able to run and lift weights, and attend meetings all week. He added that the foggy feeling he experienced earlier in the week has dissipated, and he hasn't had any sensitivity to light, a common side effect of concussions.

''It's cool,'' he said before laughing. ''I know who you are.''

Revis spent practice Wednesday and Thursday on the exercise bike on the sideline. He has been cleared for physical activity, but not contact. The team will monitor Revis the rest of the week, and if he isn't cleared by Saturday, he won't fly to Pittsburgh with the team.

''If he's not 100 percent, then Darrelle won't play,'' Ryan said. ''It's as simple as that.''

Revis was injured Sunday in the season opener against Buffalo when he made a diving attempt to tackle the Bills' C.J. Spiller and then teammate Bart Scott accidentally kicked him in the head.

''I knew he did it,'' a smiling Revis said, adding that he hasn't given him any grief. ''Bart plays aggressive, he plays reckless and of the 10 guys on that field, I knew it was Bart. And when I asked, everybody said it was Bart.''

Revis has missed just three games in his career, all in 2010, and is eager to get back on the field, especially with a tough matchup coming up with the Steelers trio of speedy receivers in Mike Wallace, Antonio Brown and Emmanuel Sanders. He said he is preparing off the practice as though it's any other week, with playing being the goal.

''It's a repeated cycle every day of going through these procedures and testing,'' Revis said. ''Hopefully, you know, I pass them and move on with my life.''

When asked if there's any part of him that might want to err on the side of caution this week, Revis quickly answered:'' It's not my call. It's the doctors' call. Whatever they say goes. I would try to be out there with a broken leg. I'm sure they know that. It's the competitive spirit in me that just wants to go out there and play.

''If I feel fine, which I do, then we'll go from there.''

Kyle Wilson would slide into Revis' starting spot opposite Antonio Cromartie if the All-Pro can't go. Ellis Lankster would likely move into Wilson's spot as the Jets' nickelback.

''We'd be foolish to think that we could just scratch him from the game plan and go with what we have,'' defensive coordinator Mike Pettine said. ''At the same time, we're not going to panic, either. I mean, we have capable backups, whether it's Kyle, Ellis Lankster or (Isaiah) Trufant. We have guys who are NFL-caliber players.

''We're hopeful that he'll go, and if he doesn't, we'll be prepared. And, if he goes, obviously that would be great.''

Concussions have been a hot-button topic for the NFL in recent seasons, with the league taking aggressive measures to keep players safe from head injuries. According to a recent Associated Press analysis, more than 3,300 players — including 26 Hall of Famers — have sued the NFL, charging that not enough was done to inform them of the dangers of concussions in the past, or to take care of them today.

Revis appreciates the steps the league has taken to try protect the players.

''This concussion thing throughout the years has progressed, and it's only to help us players,'' he said. ''In the past, there have been numerous concussions that haven't been reported. Guys would go back out there and play. This is what happens when you get a concussion or a head injury and you have to go through these procedures. The NFL's doing the best job they can to try to make sure the players are safe.''

NOTES: TE Dustin Keller did not practice Thursday after feeling soreness in his right hamstring Wednesday. He was injured during preseason and was limited in the season opener. ... ST coordinator Mike Westhoff said he woke up at 4 a.m. Tuesday and watched highlights from the Oakland-San Diego game on Monday night, and couldn't fall asleep after seeing Raiders Pro Bowl long snapper Jon Condo suffer a head injury and backup Travis Goethel struggle badly. Westhoff said defensive lineman Marcus Dixon and center Nick Mangold would step in for the Jets if snapper Tanner Purdum went down. Both have taken snaps at practice. ... Actress Eva Longoria confirmed that she and Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez are an item, telling ''Extra'' that the two are ''you know, fine. We're happy just dating.'' ... Ryan on players such as the Jets' LaRon Landry and the Steelers' Troy Polamalu and James Harrison adding a fear factor to the game: ''I always look at it this way: I always want to draft as many guys or have as many guys on the team that you wouldn't want your kid playing against.''