The Jacksonville Jaguars claimed former Buffalo Bills quarterback Trent Edwards on waivers Tuesday.
The Bills waived Edwards in a surprising move Monday, a few weeks after Buffalo coach Chan Gailey said he saw "light at the end of the tunnel" with Edwards as his starter. Ryan Fitzpatrick replaced Edwards as the Bills' starting quarterback.
Edwards' base pay is $1.65 million and the Bills already have paid him $291,176. The Jaguars would owe Edwards the balance of that deal.
The only other team that put in a claim for Edwards was the New York Jets, a source told ESPN Senior NFL Analyst Chris Mortensen, but the Jaguars were awarded the former Bills quarterback on the basis of their 1-2 record.
The Jaguars had no one to turn to behind struggling starting quarterback David Garrard, who has thrown five interceptions and been sacked eight times the last two weeks. Backup Luke McCown was placed on injured reserve last week after tearing a knee ligament, leaving 38-year-old journeyman Todd Bouman as the backup.
The Jaguars also added former St. Louis Rams quarterback Keith Null to the practice squad on Tuesday. A sixth-round draft pick in 2009, Null started four games last season and threw three touchdowns and nine interceptions.
Although the Bills lost to the New England Patriots on Sunday, Fitzpatrick picked up the offense with 247 yards passing and 374 total yards -- producing more offense in one game than Edwards managed in his two starts to open the season.
Edwards was in his fourth season after being selected by the Bills in the third round of the 2007 draft and eventually replaced J.P. Losman midway through his rookie season. He went 14-18 as a starter.
Edwards was benched the day after going 11-of-18 for 102 yards and two interceptions in a 34-7 loss at Green Bay on Sept. 19. He showed little improvement a week after going 18-of-34 for 139 yards and a touchdown in a 15-10 loss to Miami.
It marked the second time he lost the starting job to Fitzpatrick in consecutive seasons.
Garrard has been equally bad in consecutive lopsided losses to San Diego and Philadelphia. Garrard threw four interceptions and was benched against the Chargers, then completed 13 of 30 passes for 105 yards and an interception against the Eagles.
