"Unemployed receiver Terrell Owens wants to return to the 49ers and fill Braylon Edwards' spot on the roster.

That's not likely to happen, however. The 49ers are more inclined to promote a practice-squad player rather than bring in the 38-year-old Owens, who has spent all season recovering from knee surgery.

In a Twitter post Wednesday to 49ers safety Donte Whitner, a 2009 teammate on the Buffalo Bills, Owens wrote: "Let em kno if they need me, I'm ready homie!! I'm ready 2 take em deep!!"

Owens began his prolific career in 1996 with the 49ers and has 153 touchdown catches, second only to Jerry Rice in NFL history.

Asked if the playoff-bound 49ers have interest in Owens, coach Jim Harbaugh replied: "We don't comment on specific players. We talk about 49ers."

Harbaugh said the 49ers probably will use an "in-house" receiver to replace Edwards, who was released Tuesday after an unproductive and unhappy season that soured after a Sept. 18 injury to his right knee. Limited to nine games, Edwards had 15 catches -- none for more than 24 yards -- and no touchdowns."