Rex Ryan wants to give it a shot.
Even though superstar cornerback Darrelle Revis tore his ACL on Sunday and is thought to be finished for the year, the Jets coach said yesterday the Jets may not put Revis on season-ending injured reserve. The reason? In case the Jets reach Super Bowl XLVII.
And in case Revis is able to play in it.
“Let’s see what happens when he goes through surgery,” Ryan said. “Because if there’s that 0.0002 percent of chance that he could play in a Super Bowl or something, why would you take that option away from him? I think that obviously [we’re] not going to put him out there if he’s at risk or anything else but …
“Let’s just put it this way. My thought is that if you’re fortunate enough to make it to that big game and he’s fortunate enough to be healthy, I know our fans would want him playing,” Ryan added. “Just like I would want him playing. I just want to take him through surgery. Let’s get him through the surgery and see what the doctors say when they’re in there and we’ll see what happens.”
That’s fair enough to want Revis to be playing in a huge game — he’s probably the league’s best defensive player. Now, even assuming the Jets make Super Bowl XLVII on Feb. 3 in New Orleans, is it medically possible for Revis to pull off an in-game appearance?
Dr. Andrew Brief, an orthopedic surgeon at Ridgewood Orthopedic Group in Ridgewood, N.J., said he believes the timetable for a Super Bowl appearance is doubtful.
“The general consensus in the orthopedic community is that a return to sports within six months of ACL reconstruction is unusual, but not impossible,” he said.
During the 1995-96 season, Steelers cornerback Rod Woodson tore his ACL in Week 1 on Sept. 3 (he says it was on the game’s 10th play) and returned for Super Bowl XXX on Jan. 28, 1996, coming back after a 21-week absence. Revis’ injury occurred in Week 3, not Week 1. With the Super Bowl set for Feb. 3, he would have to be back in just 19 weeks.
“I played about 15 to 20 snaps [in the Super Bowl]. I only had one or two plays that came my way,” Woodson told The Post yesterday. “The knee was about 65-70 percent.”
Woodson said the rationale in his not going on injured reserve that season was similar to what Ryan is thinking.
“We thought we could make the postseason,” he said. “I set my sight on getting back for the postseason. Kind of a light at the end of the tunnel.”
Woodson said Ryan is providing the same hope for Revis.
“Rex giving him that opportunity and letting him see the light at the end of the tunnel, I think that’s a good thing for Darrelle.” he said. “[But] the knee only heals with time.”
It also is possible Ryan made his remarks to try to get the Jets to keep believing and not feel the season is finished with Revis out.
“If you are fortunate enough to get [to the Super Bowl], why wouldn’t you — at least if he does well in the surgery and he is healthy for that and he is targeted for that — then why wouldn’t you believe in yourself enough to give yourself that opportunity?” Ryan said.
Without Revis going on season-ending injured reserve, the Jets will be a player short each week. Revis currently counts on the 53-man roster, players placed on injured reserve do not.
Ryan acknowledged that, saying “That’s fine.”
Ryan said he thinks Revis’ surgery will be “within probably the next couple of weeks,” explaining medical personnel want Revis’ knee at a certain pre-surgery strength level that should aid in recovery.