Jets sign Braylon Edwards to shore up receiving corps

The Jets claimed WR Braylon Edwards off waivers Tuesday. (US Presswire)

The Jets were awarded WR Braylon Edwards off waivers Tuesday. Edwards spent the 2010 season with the Jets and was their second-leading receiver with 53 catches for 904 yards and seven touchdowns.

The Jets didn’t renew Edwards’ contract, which was the source of ongoing questions given his size (6-foot-3, 214 pounds) and ability to get separation from defenders. Edwards played for the 49ers in 2011 and was with the Seahawks for the first 10 games of 2012 before he was waived/injured (knee).

Edwards criticized the Jets organization in a tweet just a week ago, calling them “idiots” for how they have handled the situation with QB Mark Sanchez.

Sanchez and the Jets' offense have struggled all season. Sanchez has been under constant fire for his interceptions and difficulties in leading the offense. He has 13 interceptions to 12 touchdowns and the offense is ranked 30th overall in the NFL. He was benched against the Cardinals in favor of third-string QB Greg McElroy (backup Tim Tebow was inactive with a rib injury).

The Jets have had ongoing receiving issues with players coming and going each year. They didn’t make the playoffs in 2011 after going to the AFC Championship game the previous two seasons.

But there’s been one area the team has struggled with that is outside of their control: injuries. Coach Rex Ryan was unable to come up with another season when he’d seen more injuries on one of his teams.

The Jets have seven players on injured reserve and more than a handful of others who have battled ailments all season. But, it’s been the offensive skill players that have taken the biggest hit:

•  WR Santonio Holmes -- Lisfranc injury (foot), placed on injured reserve after Week 4.

•  WR Stephen Hill -- Hamstring injury, missed two games. Knee injury, awaiting diagnosis.

•  WR Jeremy Kerley -- Hamstring, heel injuries. No games missed, but held out of returning punts.

•  WR Clyde Gates -- Shoulder injury, missed two games. Concussion, missed past two games and has not been cleared to return.

•  TE Dustin Keller -- Hamstring injury, missed four games. Sprained ankle, missed a game and possibly more.

•  TE Jeff Cumberland -- Hand/wrist injury, missed a game.

•  TE Dedrick Epps -- Knee injury, placed on injured reserve after Week 3.

•  TE Josh Baker -- Torn ACL, placed on injured reserve before Week 1.

•  RB Bilal Powell -- Shoulder injury, missed two games.

•  RB Joe McKnight -- Sprained ankle, missed one game.

On the other side of the spectrum, WR Chaz Schilens battled hamstring and ankle issues in training camp but has not missed a regular-season game with an injury for the first time since his rookie season with the Raiders in 2008.

Keller may have been the biggest loss next to Holmes, the team’s No. 1 receiver. Keller was the Jets' leading receiver in 2010 and 2011 and has the longest history with Sanchez and the two have an established chemistry. His absence left Sanchez without a reliable safety net. Even with the injuries, Keller is the Jets' second-leading receiver with 28 catches for 317 yards and two touchdowns. The team’s leading receiver, Kerley has 52 catches for 728 yards and two touchdowns.

The Jets hope the addition of Edwards gives Sanchez a receiver with whom he's had success and another reliable weapon as New York tries to keep its slim playoff hopes alive. But there's a question whether Edwards’ knee holds up or will he end up another name on the Jets' lengthening injury list.