Fullback Kyle Juszczyk is returning to the 49ers on a two-year, $8 million contract just days after being cut.

The Niners had officially released Juszczyk on Tuesday instead of paying him a $4.1 million salary this season and up to an additional $500,000 in offseason workout and per-game roster bonuses. The team took on a $3.6 million dead cap charge with the move but brought him back on the new deal. Juszczyk was nearly cut last season but agreed to take a pay cut to stay in San Francisco.

The 33-year-old Juszczyk was one of the first players signed after coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch took over in 2017 and has been a key part of the offense since then thanks to his versatility.

The Chargers beefed up their offensive line on Friday by signing guard Mekhi Becton. The 6-7, 363-pound Becton started 19 games at right guard last season for the Super Bowl champion Eagles, helping pave the way for running back Saquon Barkley to rush for 2,504 yards and 13 touchdowns.

College basketball: Alex Richard had 28 points and nine rebounds to lead No. 1-seed Ball State past third-seeded Toledo 65-58 on Saturday in the championship game of the women’s Mid-American Conference Tournament.

MLB: Rangers pitcher Jon Gray fractured his right wrist when he was hit by a line drive in a spring training game against the Rockies, manager Bruce Bochy told reporters. ... Shortstop Mookie Betts will miss the Dodgers’ two exhibition games in Japan because of an illness, manager Dave Roberts said Saturday.

NBA: Cam Thomas, the Nets’ leading scorer, is expected to miss the rest of the season with a strained left hamstring.

NHL: Alex Tuch scored the deciding goal in the shootout to lead the Sabres to a 4-3 win against the Golden Knights on Saturday.