Transcript of head coach Rex Ryan's news conference following the Jets' Friday afternoon practice at the Atlantic Health Training Center:
[Darrelle] Revis was cleared for non-contact practice and he did that. We followed NFL protocol this week and we'll always follow NFL protocol when it comes to concussions. Darrelle is ruled out for the game, so he will not play. He will not travel to the game. Neither will Dustin Keller, Bryan Thomas or Dennis Landolt. None of those guys will travel to the game. Obviously, they won't play. Guys who are questionable, John Conner and Isaiah Trufant, both of them were limited in practice today.
Every one of these guys are probable for the game, they practiced full: Brandon Moore, Mike DeVito, Antonio Cromartie, Chaz Schilens, Nick Bellore, LaRon Landry, Jeremy Kerley, Josh Mauga, Sione Po'uha, Eric Smith and Stephen Hill. So that's the injury list.
We're going out there. With Darrelle not playing, we have a lot of confidence in Kyle Wilson. Obviously, he has to step up in a starting role, which he's ready for. Ellis Lankster and Isaiah Trufant will share some nickel and dime responsibilities. It will be good to get Eric Smith back. We think he's ready to roll, so we'll see. What we've always said, the guys that are stepping up in this case, because I've always believed that the guys that step up and replace a guy have to maintain that level or even a little better. In this case, we'll take a little less with the Darrelle Revis deal [smiling].
But really, quite honestly, the standards, that's what they are. It really is about the decal on the side of the helmet and we really play a team brand of football. When somebody goes down, somebody has to replace them. Mike Tomlin had an interesting comment the other day. He was talking about James Harrison not playing, and he said, "Former Defensive Player of the Year, he's a really good player. So is [Troy] Polamalu, former Defensive Player of the Year, and is a really good player." My guy [Revis] should have been Defensive Player of the Year twice but didn't get it. He's a really good player, too. We'll see if those two guys play or not. I don't know, but obviously, Darrelle won't play.
On if they brought in Dedrick Epps to provide depth because of Keller's injury.…
Yes, I think that's pretty fair. With the hamstring, he kind of tweaked it a little bit on Wednesday and it's just best that he sits out, misses this game and hopefully be ready to go next week.
On why they're announcing Revis is out today and not Saturday…
We just follow NFL protocol and whatever it is, he's not ready to play. I think that's it.
On if Garrett McIntyre will start in place of Bryan Thomas…
Yes.
On if Revis has been cleared for contact…
He hasn't been cleared for contact. He has been cleared for non-contact. He hasn't been cleared for contact.
On if flying could make Revis' symptoms worse…
That's interesting. I'm not sure. I don't know. That's why I think it's best to leave everything with the experts. There's all that stuff that goes into it. I certainly wouldn't make that decision. "Oh, he can go." That's not the case at all. You'd much rather leave it in the hands of experts.
On how much Eric Smith will play…
We'll see. I know he's going to play and we'll see the extent of that as we get going on it.
On Kyle Wilson…
I've seen a guy that really over the last two years, he spent time with Darrelle in the offseason, training with him and learning football from him. That tells you about Kyle's commitment. He wants to be a great football player and why not learn from the best, and that's exactly what he does. I've seen him become a better player. He's aware of what offenses are trying to do, how they're trying to attack. His technique, he relies on his technique more than he used to. He's a smart, tough, confident player.
On Wilson's confidence level this season…
I think so. When you come into this league as a rookie, sometimes you don't know. You're out there on your God-given ability, your instincts, but there are other ways as well. It's becoming a student of the game. I think when you watch Kyle study, his preparation; it's no surprise that he has had success.
On if last Sunday's game was a result of the Jets playing well or Buffalo having an off-day …
I think we went in very confident. We went in and we executed our game plans. Buffalo, I think, is a good football team, it's just that, that day, we were better than Buffalo. It's funny because people are killing Fitzpatrick. Fitzpatrick throws a ball, everybody's like, "Oh, look, he throws this ball right to [Antonio] Cromartie." Yeah, well, he threw right into a trap. It wasn't like he just threw it to Cromartie. Cromartie was lined up on No. 1, well, that wasn't No. 1 that ball was intended to, it was No. 2, who he trapped, and so he came off of his guy.
That's why they're saying, "Oh, Fitzpatrick is terrible." Well, Fitzpatrick is not terrible, Fitzpatrick is a good football player. I think the thing is, we hit him a number of times, knocked him down 11 times, and if you're going to throw the ball quickly, sometimes you'll throw into traps, and that's exactly what happened.
On if he he'll know more about the team after Pittsburgh game…
We know plenty about ourselves already. We know we're a good football team. Obviously, you're going into an environment like Pittsburgh. It's about as tough as it gets playing — 9-0 their last nine home openers, all that kind of stuff. But again, finding out about ourselves, I think we know enough about ourselves. But we'll see I guess. After the game, maybe I'll be ready to answer that question more, but right now, I think we know plenty about ourselves.
On performance of tight ends Jeff Cumberland and Konrad Reuland against Buffalo…
Dustin Keller's a great football player but those guys have to step up. I thought they did a nice job in his absence, I thought those two guys did a nice job. Again, that will be the similar challenge this week.
