Owens could be
back with Jaguars

If he clears waivers, Jacksonville
will sign him to its practice squad

The Jacksonville Jaguars waived Chad Owens yesterday, but that doesn't necessarily mean they waved goodbye.

If no other NFL team exercised the right to pick up the return specialist and receiver from Hawaii, the Jaguars intended to sign Owens to Jacksonville's practice squad, coach Jack Del Rio said.

Owens fumbled twice in the Jaguars' 10-3 loss at Indianapolis on Sunday. He bobbled a third punt return and was benched before halftime.

"I don't know what happened," Owens said after the Colts game. "I can't even begin to explain it. I wasn't pressing. I thought I was relaxed, but it kept popping out of my hands. I've never had a game like that."

"They're planning on signing Chad to the practice squad (today) if he clears waivers," said Leo Goeas, Owens' agent. "They want him to get his head clear."

Owens was drafted in the sixth round by the Jaguars, and the 5-foot-8, 183-pound former walk-on at Hawaii became a fan and media favorite in the preseason. But he fumbled two punt returns in exhibition games and was put on the inactive list for the season-opening game against Seattle.

Goeas said that might have contributed to Owens' problems fielding punts against the Colts.

"I think so. He didn't take it very well," Goeas said. "When he did get a chance, he was trying to get a touchdown every time he touched the ball. He needs to know that the first job is to catch the ball. The bottom line is you're not going to be around long if you leave the ball on the carpet."

Owens was drafted in the sixth round and was one of eight players selected by the Jaguars in the 2005 NFL Draft in April. The Jaguars also waived offensive tackle Lester Brown from the practice squad.

"Chad's resilient, he'll be OK. This is by no means the end of his NFL career," Goeas said. "He's always been an underdog and this is just another part of that."

Owens, 23, was the 185th overall selection in the draft. The Roosevelt High School graduate finished his four-year career at UH as the team's all-time leader in all-purpose yards, receptions and punt return yards. He was named a second-team All-American as an all-purpose player.