Revis shines in return to Jets practice

Darrelle Revis took the field Tuesday afternoon, free of nervous energy and rust. In his first practice since his five-week holdout ended, the Jets cornerback looked pretty darn close to the shutdown corner fans have grown accustomed to seeing.

“I think I’m fine right now. Nobody done beat me deep today,” Revis said with a laugh. “I just think I need to get my legs back up under me a little bit. And we’re focusing on that. …It’s just taking it slow, but it’s like hurry up and wait sometimes.”

He may be a few days (or weeks) away from being in football shape – even admitted he doesn’t know when he’ll feel like his old self -- but coach Rex Ryan and the rest of the Jets were more than pleased with what they saw. Aside from two pass breakups, Revis intercepted a Mark Brunell pass and nearly seized another one on mistimed Kellen Clemens throw.

The All-Pro corner, who participated in 50 percent of the snaps (between 15-20), called his time on the field “the breakthrough.”

“Just being back out on the field, getting used to the guys out there, clowning and joking and just focusing on the game plan and what we need to accomplish this week,” he said.

He also said he expects the Baltimore Ravens, the Jets’ Monday night opponent, to test him. “I think they’re going to come at me just because I haven’t been in camp,” Revis said. “I haven’t been playing football for a while. I’m sure that’s in their game plan.”

His coach, however, thinks that scenario’s highly likely. “They should do that. Find him, go to him, and go to him often,” Ryan said sarcastically, before adding: “They’re smarter than that. They’re not coming after him. No chance.”

Ryan also said the plan is to steadily increase Revis' workload in preparation for Monday's game.

“It is a difference, being in shape and being in football shape, so I know Dennis (Thurman) took him over privately today, to actually get him some more air time,” Ryan joked. “Nah, I mean to work on Darrelle a little bit. Hitting, using the tackling machine and all that kind of stuff to get him going a little bit. He’ll work out with [strength coach] Sal [Alosi] tomorrow and things like that, in the weight room and stuff. So we’re confident we have a good plan for him and we’ll see where he’s at. He is a little heavier than he normally is.”