Braylon Edwards Injury: 49ers Should Expect to Be Without Star WR for a While

San Francisco 49ers fans shouldn’t expect to see their prized free-agent acquisition Braylon Edwards on the gridiron any time soon.

Edwards is currently dealing with a knee injury, which comes at a terrible time in his career since he is fighting for a long-term contract next offseason.

For that reason, look for Edwards to milk the injury and stay on the sidelines until he is 100 percent. He’s already been ruled out for the foreseeable future. According to CSNBayArea.com’s Matt Maiocco:

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Even with Braylon Edwards expected to miss several weeks after undergoing an arthroscopic procedure to repair a torn meniscus on his right knee, the 49ers do not feel any pressing need to add another wide receiver

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This injury could have been much worse. We’ve already seen Kansas City lose TE Tony Moeaki, S Eric Berry and Jamaal Charles for the season due to ACL injuries. The New York Giants lost LB Jonathan Goff, LB Clint Sintim, CB Terrell Thomas and CB Brian Washington to ACL injuries as well. The Carolina Panthers lost Thomas Davis to his third ACL injury in 23 months.

Edwards already escaped one devastating injury—he won’t tempt fate by rushing back too soon. If Edwards comes back too soon, he could risk further injury and cripple his chances at securing that big pay day next year.

Granted, there is a double-edged sword here. Most general managers would love to employ a warrior. Nobody wants to see one of their superstars milk an injury. Instead, they would prefer them to man up and play through non-major injuries for the betterment of the team.

Despite being awarded a one-year deal by San Francisco at the end of this year’s post-lockout free-agent frenzy, Edwards has no allegiance to this organization. If anything, Edwards did them a favor by agreeing to a one-year deal worth a little more than peanuts and laughable incentives.

“He signed a one-year contract that included a $1 million base salary. His contract counts $2.1 million against the salary cap, and he would receive $3.5 million if he catches 90 passes and makes the Pro Bowl,” according to Maiocco.

The 49ers had everything to gain by signing him to such a deal, but also nothing to lose.

They were gaining a highly motivated man looking to play above and beyond his skills to land the contract he believes he deserves and already earned.

What exactly would he even be coming back to? Michael Crabtree should make his 2011 debut, but he’s been nursing a foot injury throughout his young career. The 49ers brought back one of the biggest No. 1 overall draft busts in NFL history in Alex Smith back to the team to start at QB. This team has little direction this season despite starting the season 1-1 and tied atop the NFC West.

Edwards may have left Week 2 with the knee injury, but the 49ers blew a 10-point lead in the fourth quarter to the Dallas Cowboys to relinquish their stranglehold over the division. The 49ers’ postseason future is of little to concern to him right now.

The only concern on Edwards’ mind right now, and for the rest of the season, is making sure his knee heals properly. He heads to shelf with just 48 yards on four receptions in less than five quarters of action. If he can put together a dominant four-game stretch to end the year, he will at least earn a contract better suited to his needs than the ludicrous one he is currently playing for.