New York Jets News: Who Must Step Up Darrelle Revis' Absence?

Revis is considered by many to be the best defensive player in the league. He’s made it to the Pro Bowl in each of the last four years.

There were already a lot of questions surrounding the Jets before the injury. Now, New York will have an even tougher time making the playoffs.

Kyle Wilson will be given the tough task of replacing Revis. The cornerback was taken in the first round of the 2010 NFL Draft, but has failed to live up to expectations. He’ll have to improve to come close to giving the Jets the kind of performance that Revis has given them over the years.

Isaiah Trufant could be asked to step up, if Wilson can’t get the job done. He has three tackles in limited playing time this season.

The injury to Revis puts Antonio Cromartie in the spotlight. The cornerback, who’s played across from Revis since 2010, is now the Jets top player in the secondary. He’ll be given the tough task of covering each opponent’s No. 1 wide receiver.

Cromartie may not be as good as Revis, but he’s still an above average cornerback. He made the Pro Bowl in 2007 and has complemented Revis well since coming to New York. The Jets no longer have the best cornerback duo in the league, but they still could be better than most.

New York also improved its secondary in the offseason. They added safeties LaRon Landry and Yeremiah Bell to bolster their defense.

The loss of Revis won’t cripple the Jets defense, but it definitely makes it more difficult for them to stop high-powered offenses. Revis’ unique ability allowed New York to avoid double-teaming the league’s best wide receivers. Without Revis, Rex Ryan will be forced to change the way he coaches.

At his best, Cromartie is a Pro Bowl cornerback. He intercepted 10 passes with the Chargers in 2007. He’s also known for taking chances and allowing big plays.

Since Revis could shut down opposing wide outs, Cromartie could take some more risks. Unless Wilson greatly improves during the course of the season, the Jets will be more susceptible to giving up big plays.

New York's defensive line will also have to step up with Revis on the sidelines. Giving opposing quarterbacks less time to throw the ball would take a lot of pressure off the secondary.

The Jets have done a very poor job of getting to the quarterback this year. They’re near the bottom of the league with just three sacks.

Rookie Quinton Coples might be called upon to do more. The defensive end  has four tackles this year, and has only played a handful of plays in each game.

Even if the secondary and defensive line overachieve, the Jets will still be greatly affected by Revis’ injury. He’s probably the team’s most important player, and New York’s playoff chances may have been greatly lessened with the injury.

The Jets host the 49ers on Sunday in their first game without Revis.