Shaun Ellis signed a six-year deal to stay with the Jets yesterday, making him one of the highest paid defensive ends in the league.

Ellis will get $15.5 million in guaranteed money, second to the $16 million Eagles defensive end Jevon Kearse received in the off-season. The deal is expected to average over $6 million a year.

“I could have tested free agency, but I didn’t,” Ellis said. “I felt my home was here. I feel this is where I belong.”

Ellis, a first-round pick in 2000 out of Tennessee, made his first Pro Bowl appearance last year after getting 12.5 sacks and 109 tackles. After starting this season slowly while dealing with his father’s death, Ellis has picked up his play.

He has 4.5 sacks so far and countless hurries, and has been one of the biggest reasons the Jets have improved their play against the run. Ellis has also missed just one game in his five-year career, three weeks ago against Baltimore.

The Jets made re-signing Ellis a priority in the offseason. Now they must turn their attention to re-signing a host of other key players: defensive end John Abraham, right tackle Kareem McKenzie, running back LaMont Jordan, and defensive tackle Jason Ferguson.

“We’ve had priorities, Chad [Pennington] and Shaun were two of those priorities,” general manager Terry Bradway said. “We’re fortunate to be able to get both of those done. It’s probably going to be impossible to keep everybody, but this was a big one for us.”

Abraham is having another monster season, with 9.5 sacks after a disappointing 2003 season. When Ellis emerged, it became clear the Jets would keep just him. But now that Abraham is playing well and staying healthy, he might be in their plans again.

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PENNINGTON ON THE MEND

Quarterback Chad Pennington, who has missed the last three weeks with a strained right rotator cuff, is questionable for Sunday’s game against Houston. He will share snaps with Quincy Carter during practice this week before determining whether he can play.

“I always said I’m going to come back when I feel I can help my team and not hurt my team,” Pennington said yesterday. “I feel that way. I feel like I can play well.”

Whether coach Herman Edwards agrees could be the deciding factor. Pennington started throwing last week for the first time since getting hurt November 7 at Buffalo. He threw 50 passes with full velocity before last Sunday’s game against Arizona, ranging from short ones to 40-45 yarders.

There has been no swelling in his shoulder and no setbacks, and Pennington does not know whether sitting out an additional week will be beneficial to what he is able to do.

“Does a week really make a difference?” Pennington said. “That’s the question. Functional-wise and my shoulder, and the type of movement that it has to make, I don’t think a week makes a difference. This is football, and you do play hurt. I don’t feel like I’m hurt.”

Waiting a week also could put the Jets in a tough position. If Pennington misses the Texans game, he would return at Pittsburgh on December 12.