The Jacksonville Jaguars re-signed receiver/punt returner Chad Owens to the practice squad yesterday, four days after waiving the second-year former University of Hawai'i standout.

Owens played in four games as the team's punt returner. He returned nine punts for 56 yards and averaged 6.2 yards. After returning two punts for just 5 yards at Houston on Oct. 22, coach Jack Del Rio called him "indecisive."

Owens, a sixth-round draft pick in 2005, was replaced the following week by Alvin Pearman, who returned four punts for 56 yards at Philadelphia. Owens was waived five days later.

DOLPHINS

GUARD FONOTI SIGNS

The Miami Dolphins signed former Kahuku High and Nebraska guard Toniu Fonoti yesterday, and waived tight end Jason Rader.

Fonoti, a second-round draft choice by San Diego in 2002, has started 33 games with the Chargers, Minnesota and Tampa Bay. The Buccaneers released him shortly before this season.

Rader played in five games this year and had no receptions.

STEELERS

LB PORTER FINED $15,000

Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Joey Porter was fined $15,000 for remarks made to a member of referee Tony Corrente's officiating crew during a 20-13 loss at Oakland on Oct. 29.

Porter was fined for unsportmanslike conduct on the play, two plays after linebacker Larry Foote drew the same penalty. The two penalties led to a field goal by Oakland during the Raiders' upset victory, one of six Steelers losses in seven games.

ELSEWHERE

Bills: Buffalo receiver Josh Reed was released from the hospital yesterday, two days after suffering a bruised kidney in a victory over Green Bay. Coach Dick Jauron was scheduled to update Reed's status for Sunday's game against Indianapolis after today's practice.

Bengals: Cincinnati signed center Ben Wilkerson to a four-year deal yesterday. Wilkerson signed with the Bengals in 2005 as a free agent, but spent last year recovering from a torn knee ligament suffered at Louisiana State. He played in all four preseason games this year and had been on the Bengals' practice squad since Sept. 4.

Broncos: Denver safety Sam Brandon, who tore his right anterior cruciate ligament Sunday at Pittsburgh while tackling running back Najeh Davenport, was placed on injured reserve yesterday. Brandon, who covered tight ends as the "big nickel" back, finished the season with 15 tackles, a pass breakup and a fumble recovery.

Chiefs: Kansas City claimed cornerback Marcus Maxey off waivers from Chicago yesterday. Maxey, Kansas City's fifth-round selection in this year's draft, was released by the Chiefs on Sept. 29 and claimed off waivers by Chicago. Maxey will play under terms of the original three-year contract he signed with the Chiefs in July.

Packers: Green Bay and center Scott Wells agreed to a five-year, $15 million contract extension, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press last night. The person, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal had not yet been announced, said Wells' new contract includes $5 million in bonuses.