Lightning strike halts Raiders’ practice

Alameda, Calif. — A bolt of lightning struck near the Oakland Raiders’ practice facility Thursday, forcing the team to cut practice short.

Thunderstorms, with heavy rain and high wind, pounded Northern California and knocked out power and toppled trees in the Bay area. Raiders coach Bill Callahan called a halt to the rain-drenched workout as a precaution after the lightning bolt sent players scurrying for cover.

“It came out of nowhere,” Callahan said. “A bolt came out (and it was) time to go in. We were in the midst of almost completing the entire practice.”

Weather forecasts call for continued rain through the week that might last carry over into Sunday’s game between the Raiders and Denver, which could decide the AFC West.

Oakland can clinch its third straight division title.

Tackle Jansen will stay with Washington

Ashburn, Va. — Redskins right tackle Jon Jansen agreed to a six-year, $25 million contract to stay in Washington, where he has missed just one play in four seasons.

The deal includes an $8 million signing bonus and keeps the 1999 second-round draft pick from Michigan from becoming a free agent at the end of the season.

“For most of the year, I just didn’t see it working out,” Jansen said. “It was my inexperience with negotiations. I’m extremely happy that it did.”

Keeping Jansen is a major victory for the Redskins, who didn’t want to have to find a new tackle with so many other pressing needs in the upcoming offseason.

Nicknamed “Rock,” Jansen had wrestled with testing the open market, particularly because his power-blocking mentality hasn’t been an easy mesh in coach Steve Spurrier’s pass-orientated offense.

Patriots place Smith on injured reserve

Foxboro, Mass. — The New England Patriots placed starting cornerback Otis Smith on injured reserve and released defensive tackle Steve Martin on Thursday.

Smith, who hurt his shoulder in the fourth quarter of New England’s 24-7 loss at Tennessee on Monday night, started 13 of the team’s 14 games and had two interceptions. He also forced two fumbles and recovered one.

With Smith out for the season, his spot could be taken by Terrell Buckley, the primary backup at cornerback.

The 37-year-old Smith is in his 12th NFL season and fourth with the Patriots.

Martin, 28, had 17 tackles, only one in the last five games as part of a defensive line that has been vulnerable to the run. He entered the NFL in 1996 with Indianapolis and later played for Philadelphia and Kansas City before spending last season with the Jets.