KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The Kansas City Chiefs need help for a beleaguered pass defense, and Darrelle Revis needed a job. The two got together on Wednesday, when the veteran cornerback signed a contract with the Chiefs.
"The reason for me returning is the fire I have, the fuel I have to continue to play this game at a high level,'' Revis said. "My role is to help win. Whatever is best for the team, whether my position is playing a few downs or playing in the slot, wherever Coach wants to play me and feels he can utilize me to help win.''
The Chiefs are 28th in passing yards allowed heading into Sunday's game against the Buffalo Bills at Arrowhead Stadium.
Marcus Peters and Steven Nelson have been the starting cornerbacks, but the Chiefs have struggled to find any consistency from their third cornerbacks. They've gone through a rotation of Phillip Gaines, Kenneth Acker and Terrance Mitchell in recent weeks, but none has been able to help stem the tide of big pass plays.
"You're talking about one of the all-time great players at that position,'' Chiefs coach Andy Reid said of Revis. "It's just a matter of getting him back in the swing of things ... I would think his role would be to step in and be a starter.''
Chiefs defensive coordinator Bob Sutton was on the Jets' staff for Revis' first six NFL seasons with New York from 2007-12. His familiarity with Sutton's way of doing things is one reason Reid wouldn't rule out the possibility of Revis playing on Sunday against the Bills.
"Let's just see where he's at,'' Reid said. "I told him the same thing. There's no hurry. He's a veteran guy. He looks like he's in good shape. He's been moving around, working out.''
Revis is 32 and had his worst NFL season with the Jets in 2016, something he acknowledged Wednesday. But the Chiefs expect Revis to play as well as he did earlier in his career, when he was one of the NFL's top cornerbacks.
"I would tell you he looks great physically,'' Reid said. "Time does that. Time will take a step away from you. That happens. But he's a smart guy who knows how to play the game. That's become important at this point in his career. I'm not telling you he can't run. He can still run.''
Revis said the chance to play for an accomplished coach like Reid was a plus in signing with the Chiefs.
"I'm a big fan of Andy Reid as well,'' he said. "I still haven't been able to intercept one of his quarterback's passes. Now I'm actually teaming up with him.
"We've been talking back-and-forth throughout the whole season. It's all about timing. Right now, where I'm at and where my body is, I'm trying to come in and help and [be] an addition to the team. It made sense for both parties.''
Peters, the Chiefs' top cornerback, had two interceptions in a game against the Jets last season.
"He's awesome,'' Revis said. "Marcus Peters is really awesome. I love the way he plays. I've been on the other side, playing against him, and [he] made plays ... He's [taken] the league by storm. A very talented player, and I'm excited about what we can do.''