By Jim Scott
DNAinfo Associate Editor
New York quarterback Mark Sanchez will have a shiny new target to throw the football to as wide receiver Braylon Edwards makes his Jets debut against the Miami Dolphins Monday night.
Edwards was traded to the Jets after wearing out his welcome in Cleveland. New York hopes the 6-foot-3 receiver gives them the kind of physical, game-breaking receiver they've lacked since trading away Keshawn Johson after the 1999 season.
The team gave up wide receiver Chansi Stuckey, linebacker Jason Trusnik and two undisclosed draft choices to Cleveland on Wednesday to get Edwards. The fourth-year receiver had 1,289 receiving yards and 16 touchdowns in 2007, but has found the end zone just three times since.
Sanchez hopes to get the Jets (3-1) back in the win column after suffering his first NFL defeat last week. The rookie quarterback threw three interceptons and fumbled once in the Jets 24-10 loss to the New Orleans Saints on Oct. 4.
Head coach Rex Ryan is confident the young signal caller will bounce back from the worst start of his young career.
"He’s like a tiger. He’s going to come roaring back,” Ryan said in a press conference earlier this week. “There’s no doubt. I have 100 percent confidence in him, and I have confidence in our football team."
The Jets defense will get also get a boost Monday with the return of playmaking linebacker Calvin Pace.
Pace was suspended for the first four games of the season after testing positive for a banned substance in the offseason. Pace had 80 tackles, seven sacks and team-leading five forced fumbles for the Jets last season.
Miami (1-3) enters Monday's game with the league’s best running game, averaging 183.5 yards per game on the ground.
The Dolphins ran for 250 yards on the ground in a 38-10 win over the Buffalo Bills last Sunday for their first win of the season.
