Darrelle Revis' recovery from surgery to repair his torn ACL in his left knee has taken another step forward, as the star Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback has received clearance to make cuts and change directions.
"I feel very confident," Revis told the NFL Network in the newest episode of "Health of the Game: Project Revis," which is chronicling his rehab from surgery.
"If Todd [Toriscelli, the Bucs' director of sports medicine and performance] tells me to cut, I am cutting. I am not trying to think about [it]," he said.
Toriscelli told the NFL Network that Revis remains on schedule to "train to play football" in July, when the Buccaneers report to training camp.
The former New York Jets cornerback, who was traded to the Buccaneers for the 13th overall pick in the 2013 draft and a conditional pick in next year's draft, said he is confident he can return to his pre-surgery form.
"The first time I step out there, I'll be fine," Revis said.
Buccaneers coach Greg Schiano told the NFL Network that he thinks Revis will be able to return to his status as the NFL's best cornerback, but even if Revis is diminished slightly he'll still be better than most players at his position.
"If it isn't exactly that way right away, then we'll adapt," Schiano said. "Eighty-five or 90 percent of Darrelle Revis is still better than most 100 percent other corners, right?"
If Revis is ready to play in Week 1, his first game for the Buccaneers will be against his former team, as the Bucs open the 2013 season at MetLife Stadium against the Jets.
"I call it just getting ready for Week 1," Revis said when told it was "fitting" that he might face his former team in his first game after surgery. "It doesn't matter if it's the Jets, the Bills, it doesn't matter who it is. We got to go out there and play as a team and win."
