For years now, Darrelle Revis has competed, performed and excelled in football.
But never before this week had the Jets' Pro Bowl cornerback encountered an injury like he did Sunday.
Revis suffered a mild concussion during the fourth quarter of the Jets' win against Buffalo when he tackled Bills running back C.J. Spiller and was accidentally kicked in the head by teammate Bart Scott.
Speaking with reporters this afternoon for the first time since before the injury occurred, Revis described the concussion initially as "being in a fog."
"The play happened so fast," he said. "It just felt like a headache. At the time, the only thing I could remember was Spiller running through the hole and I tried to stick my hand out to make a tackle. But it just happened so fast, it felt like a headache."
Revis said he knew instantly when the play happened that it was Scott who had unintentionally kicked him. He is not holding a grudge against his teammate and understands things like this sometimes transpire.
"Bart plays aggressive, he plays reckless, and out of the other 10 guys on that field, I knew it was Bart," he said. "And when I asked, everybody told me it was Bart."
Despite the concussion being listed as "mild," Revis has yet to practice this week. Wednesday he was cleared to resume physical activity — running and lifting weights — and his status remained the same today.
"I feel a little bit better," he said. "I'm just taking it one day at a time. I think that's the approach and I'll go from there."
The Pittsburgh Steelers are the Jets' opponent this week and Jets head coach Rex Ryan made it clear this morning: "If he's not 100 percent, Darrelle won't play. It's as simple as that."
Now in his sixth year in the NFL, the 5'11", 198-pounder has missed only two games in his career due to injury. He said this week he has felt fine whenever waking up, adding that he has attended the team's meetings.
"I'm preparing just as any other week," Revis said. "I'm studying and doing what I need to do. When my number is called to play, then I'll be out there and do that."
Although he is trying to stay optimistic, the past few days haven't been easy for him.
"I never had a concussion," he said, "so this is something you've got to get guidance from the training staff and the doctors.
"We're just going through the same stuff. It's a repeated cycle every day of going through these procedures and testing's and hopefully I pass them and move on with my life."
Pittsburgh carries one of the most talented wide receiving trios in the NFL with Mike Wallace, Antonio Brown and Emmanuel Sanders. If Revis is unable to go Sunday, nickel cornerback Kyle Wilson would slide to the outside and replace him. Wilson said Wednesday he will be prepared for the task if the opportunity is presented.
Revis obviously wants to return to the field as soon as possible, stating that with the competitive spirit inside him, he would attempt to play even if he had a broken leg. However, he also is realistic and knows the final decision regarding whether or not he will play Sunday isn't determined by him. Rather, it's the doctors that ultimately hold the final word.
"In the past, there have been numerous concussions that haven't been recorded and guys go back out there and play," Revis said. "This is what happens. When you get a concussion or these types of things, head injuries, you have to go through these procedures, and the NFL is doing the best job they can to try and make sure the players are safe."
