Revis Island will be empty Sunday.
Jets coach Todd Bowles confirmed what had been the prevailing thought all week — star cornerback Darrelle Revis, who is suffering from a concussion, won’t play against the Giants. Revis is still unable to do much of anything. He gets treatment and has been able to do light physical activity, but he still can’t even sit in meetings.
Bowles was asked if there was any chance Revis could play Sunday.
“I don’t think so,” Bowles said. “He didn’t do anything today. It’s more likely that he won’t play.”
That leaves the Jets in a sticky situation, particularly when it comes to defending Giants phenom Odell Beckham Jr. It looks as if they also will be without Marcus Williams, who started in Revis’ place last week against the Dolphins. Williams sprained his left knee and has not practiced all week. Bowles said that could be a game-time decision, but it seems unlikely Williams will play.
The Jets could use Darrin Walls, Buster Skrine or Dee Milliner in Revis’ place. Walls came in last week after Williams was injured. Skrine has primarily been the team’s nickel corner, but could move outside. Milliner, a 2013-first-round pick, has yet to play a defensive snap since returning from a wrist injury three weeks ago, but he could give Bowles a wrinkle to throw at the Giants.
The Jets say Revis’ absence won’t be a huge deal.
“I feel like every corner we’ve got in our room can start on any team,” Skrine said. “I feel like we’re very deep.”
This could be a challenge for Bowles to come up with a creative scheme to stop Beckham and the Giants’ passing attack. The Giants are ninth in the NFL in passing offense, so this would be a challenge for the secondary even if Revis were playing. Without him, the challenge will be even greater.
“We’ve got to do what we do best,” Skrine said. “We’re going to stick to our game plan. They’ve still got to beat our defense. Just because we have a guy down doesn’t mean we’re going to switch things up. We just look at it as we have a good defense and they’re going to have to beat our defense.”
Antonio Cromartie, the team’s No. 2 cornerback, could spend time on Beckham. Cromartie has not had a good season, but played well last week against the Dolphins. Cromartie said Revis’ absence won’t affect them.
“I don’t think it does at all,” Cromartie said. “I think we did a great job last week adjusting when he didn’t play. I think the biggest thing for us as a secondary is to make sure we’re communicating and we’re all on the same page. We’ve been around each other since April. It’s just important now that everyone is clicking, everyone’s doing the same thing. We know how to play off each other. That’s what it’s really all about.”
Cromartie said he is not preparing as if Beckham is the only guy the Jets have to stop.
“I’m preparing for spending time wherever coach needs me to be,” he said. “He’s not the whole focal point of the team.”
Cromartie was complimentary of Beckham, whom he called a “one-year wonder” earlier this season.
“He’s a No. 1 guy,” Cromartie said. “Obviously, if you look at the targets he gets a game, he’s a No. 1 guy. He makes some great plays and he’s an explosive player. He’s a guy that can take the ball and turn a 5-yard play into an 80-yard play. It’s just a point where we as a secondary have to do what we have to do on the back end and eliminate the explosive plays.”