FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- Joe McKnight reluctantly wore the green of a defensive player Wednesday, his first day as a newly minted cornerback for the New York Jets.

Coach Rex Ryan said the Jets are planning to convert the running back in order to shore up the cornerback position after Darrelle Revis suffered a season-ending ACL tear last Sunday in Miami.

"He'll have a role on offense but we're teaching him how to play corner in an almost, not quite a full-time capacity," Ryan said. "But he's going to be over there a ton, in the meetings and everything else."

McKnight, who had three interceptions in practice -- one from each quarterback -- accepted his new role, but he wasn't necessarily happy about it.

"I was drafted as a running back," McKnight said. "The way I took it as I wasn't good enough to play running back; that's what I took it as. I don't know if that's the case or not."

McKnight found out about the Jets' plans for him during a Monday meeting in front of the entire team. Ryan told him he'd be attending meetings with the defense going forward.