Rex Ryan still 'optimistic' Braylon Edwards will play

Braylon Edwards was limited in practice Saturday and is questionable for the Jets’ must-win game in Tennessee.

The recently-signed wide receiver has yet to practice fully since rejoining his old team because of a hamstring injury. But Rex Ryan reiterated he feels good about Edwards facing the Titans.

“I remain optimistic about Monday night,” the Jets coach said. “How much he’ll play, we’ll see. But I’m optimistic he’ll be ready for Monday night.”

Ryan wouldn’t offer a ballpark snap-total for Edwards, who was waived off injured reserve by the Seahawks Monday and waiver-claimed by the Jets the following day.

“I’m not real sure, yet…we’ll just see how he progresses,” Ryan said. “Right now, I feel like he’s getting better each day. Again, I think Monday night he’ll get to play. We’ll get to see how much. That’s kind of how I feel about it. I believe he will play.”

On Wednesday, Seattle coach Pete Carroll said his team believed Edwards’ hamstring injury would force him to miss the remainder of the season – but the Jets’ medical staff clearly thought differently. Edwards’ chemistry with struggling starter Mark Sanchez was a major factor in the team’s decision to re-sign the wideout, who spent two years with the Jets in 2009 and 2010. Though Tony Sparano’s offensive system is completely new for Edwards, Ryan praised the wideout’s run-blocking ability.

“He definitely brings that mentality as a blocker, and everything else, that we certainly appreciate,” the Jets coach said. “But really, it was just the overall thing, we’ve been kind of banged up at receiver and we were very familiar with Braylon and his attributes that he brings to the table. He’s a smart guy and obviously competitive. And I absolutely do love the way he blocks. I guess, you consider all those things when you bring a guy in.”

After Saturday’s practice, Edwards had this to say on Twitter: “Today felt great,” he tweeted. “Team had good energy and moved around with a purpose.”

However, it remains to be seen how much moving around he’ll be doing Monday night.