New York Jets sign former Eagles receiver Mardy Gilyard

The New York Jets have signed Mardy Gilyard to help provide depth in a very banged-up wide receiver corps, according to Mike Garofalo of USA Today.

The Jets turn to the third-year wide receiver with several injuries to their various pass catchers: Santonio Holmes has been out for the year for some time, leaving New York with four wide receivers: Jeremy Kerley, Clyde Gates, and Stephen Hill all entered the team's Week 12 game against the Patriots on the team's injury report with Kerley considered limited in practice with a heel/hamstring injury. And in the game itself, Gates and the team's fourth receiver, Chaz Schilens, suffered head injuries that forced them to leave early. Although Kerley and Hill played, the team technically has no healthy wide receivers, thus the need for Gilyard, who worked out and signed with the team Tuesday.

Gilyard was drafted in the fourth round out of Cincinnati in 2010 by the St. Louis Rams, starting twice and catching six passes for 63 yards. He was cut just before the start of the next year, and couldn't find a home for the 2011 season. He signed with the Philadelphia Eagles at the beginning of this season, but did not record any stats before being cut in favor of Greg Salas. Gilyard had previously been with the Jets for less than a week in 2011, never making it onto an active roster.

To make room for him, they cut offensive guard Hayworth Hicks.