Tampa Bay Buccaneers general manager Mark Dominik is "almost certain" cornerback Darrelle Revis will play Week 1 against the New York Jets. Whether Revis will play in a preseason game, however, remains uncertain, MMQB reports.
After a week of practicing, Dominik is confident Revis is on track to start in the season opener. Revis told Peter King of MMQB that his knee has responded well to practicing, and there's been no swelling. Still, Revis sounded less optimistic than Dominik about playing Week 1.
"At this time, I can't tell you," Revis told King. "But it is my goal to be ready for the first game, and it's coming along well."
Whenever Revis does return, he doesn't believe his knee will be an issue.
"I'm very confident. Very," Revis said. "My mindset is, when they tell me I could cut, I figured it meant I could cut hard on it. I did, and it didn't hurt and the knee didn't swell. And I've been out there putting pressure on it and it hasn't hurt. So I feel when I get out there, I'll be confident I can do everything I need to."
Bucs coach Greg Schiano has kept Revis on a strict training, conditioning and practice program. He hasn't decided whether Revis will suit up for a preseason game. If Revis did return for the preseason, it likely wouldn't be until the third game, at the earliest.
As for Revis's new role in Tampa, the corner doesn't see much changing. His ability to shutdown an opponent's top receiver with one-on-one coverage earned his side of the field the nickname, "Revis Island." He's already discussed continuing that style of play in Tampa.
"Coach and I have talked about it, and he's open to it," Revis said. "It'll be predicated on the gameplan. But I think you'll see it a lot. I might have to dust the cobwebs off, but it's the way I play best. I've said, 'Coach, this is the way I play best,' and I think he agrees."
