HEMPSTEAD,N.Y. – Jets running back Curtis Martin has played through ankle injuries, torn ligaments, even an injured tailbone. Can he play through pain again? Martin strained his right knee against the Miami Dolphins on Sunday and his status is uncertain for this week’s game against Jacksonville. Coach Herman Edwards said yesterday that Martin was undergoing an MRI and would wait for the results before determining whether the back can play.

Martin, who led the NFL in rushing last season, was injured in the first quarter but stayed in the game and finished with 72 yards on 31 carries.

“We don’t know where he’s at,” Edwards said. “He’s been a guy that’s always answered the bell. We’ll see where he’s at.”

Losing Martin would be a huge blow for the Jets offense, especially since both fullbacks also got hurt. Starter Jerald Sowell and B.J. Askew have sprained right ankles. If Martin can’t play, Derrick Blaylock would start.

The 32-year-old Martin has missed just four regular-season games in his 11-year career, and only one with the Jets – in 1998, when he was inactive against St. Louis with a thigh injury.

In 2000, Martin injured the medial collateral ligament in his knee in the season opener, then ripped the muscle away from his tailbone later during the season. He kept playing and ended up with 1,204 yards. In 2002, Martin played most of the season with injuries to both ankles.

He entered 2005 hoping to become the first back in league history to start a career with 11 straight 1,000 yard seasons.

Martin got hurt on the first drive of the game, when he was tackled on a second-and-goal by Zach Thomas. Then in the second quarter, he took another shot to the knee following a 9-yard run.

Edwards said he had no idea Martin was hurt until yesterday morning and sounded pessimistic about Martin when he was asked about Blaylock, who has two carries for 14 yards this season. When asked about Blaylock’s limited playing time, Edwards said, “This week he didn’t run a whole bunch. Right now it looks like he’s going to run a lot.”

But with Martin, one never knows. The Jets entered the season wanting to emphasize Martin and the run, and that probably won’t change no matter who carries the ball.

“We all know Curtis is a tough guy,” guard Pete Kendall said. “He’s going to play if he can play. It wasn’t like our jobs could have gotten much harder anyway with these defenses coming up. It’s going to be a tough mountain to climb regardless.”