From The Associated Press

ALAMEDA — The Raiders placed Charles Woodson on injured reserve Thursday, definitively ending the four-time Pro Bowl cornerback’s season and possibly signaling the end of his career in Oakland.

Woodson has not played since breaking his right leg in an Oct. 23 win over Buffalo. Though the team and coach Norv Turner had held out hope that Woodson would be able to return and play again this season, the former Heisman Trophy winner has been slow to recover and only recently began jogging.

As Oakland’s franchise player, Woodson is earning more than $10 million in salary this season. That number would jump to nearly $13 million in 2006 if the Raiders were to keep the franchise tag on Woodson, something owner Al Davis might be hesitant to do with so many other problems plaguing his team.

The 4-11 Raiders will miss the playoffs for a third straight season and are enduring a third consecutive losing season for the first time since Davis joined the franchise in 1963.

Woodson has been at the team’s facility and was working out in the weight room Tuesday. Two days later, the Raiders placed him on IR, prematurely ending his season for a second straight year. Woodson was inactive for the final three games of 2004 with a hip injury.

Tight end James Adkisson was elevated from Oakland’s practice squad to take Woodson’s roster spot.

Center Jake Grove, a second-round pick last season who has been battling knee problems for the last two months, did not finish practice Thursday and is still questionable to play Saturday in the regular-season finale against the New York Giants.

“He took part in part of practice,” Turner said. “We’ll see. He may be inactive.”