New England released quarterback Jim Miller and placed veteran defensive lineman Dana Stubblefield on injured reserve Tuesday.

Miller hadn’t played in any of the Patriots three exhibition games since signing as a free agent last month. He had played for Pittsburgh, Jacksonville, Atlanta, Chicago and Tampa Bay before missing last season because of an injury to his right shoulder.

His departure leaves New England with Tom Brady, Rohan Davey and Kliff Kingsbury at quarterback.

Stubblefield has an ankle injury. The 1997 NFL defensive player of the year, a Kansas University product, signed as a free agent Aug. 5 after playing for Oakland last season. In 11 seasons, he also played for San Francisco and Washington.

Raiders

Charles Woodson signed the Raiders’ one-year tender for $8.782 million on Tuesday, joining the team after a 33-day holdout.

“I guess it’s just been long enough,” Woodson said. “We tried our different tactics and it’s just been long enough. It’s time to get back in and get back to work.”

The four-time Pro Bowl cornerback now can begin negotiating the long-term deal he wants.

Coach Norv Turner said Monday that Woodson wouldn’t play in Thursday’s exhibition finale against St. Louis. Turner also said Woodson wouldn’t start and would play nickel back in the Raiders’ season-opener Sept. 12 at Pittsburgh.

Woodson had been working out twice a day in Houston, so the Raiders aren’t as concerned about his fitness level as they are his ability to play catch-up in new defensive coordinator Rob Ryan’s 3-4 scheme.

Bears

Brian Urlacher’s pulled hamstring is healed and he’s back on the practice field, realizing how much he missed football and vowing to be ready for the season opener.

“I’ve never been injured, so I don’t know how to react,” Urlacher said Tuesday before his second practice session since he was hurt July 28 during the first workout of training camp. “I’m just going to do what they tell me to do and just get ready for Detroit.”

The Pro Bowl linebacker won’t play in Friday’s preseason finale at Cleveland but plans to play for sure in the Sept. 12 season opener against the Lions at Soldier Field.

Bucs/Giants

Tampa Bay sent guard Jason Whittle to the Giants for an undisclosed draft choice, returning the guard to the team with which he began his career.

Whittle played for New York from 1998-2002, starting all 14 games he played his final year. He signed last March as a free agent with the Bucs, where he started five games.

The Giants also waived placekicker Bill Gramatica, brother of Bucs’ kicker Martin Gramatica. That makes Todd France New York’s kicker.

Cardinals

The Cardinals acquired running back Troy Hambrick and defensive end Peppi Zellner on Tuesday in a trade with the Oakland Raiders.

The Cardinals gave the Raiders an undisclosed conditional 2005 draft pick, the team announced.

Hambrick rushed for 972 yards and five touchdowns last year, but was released by Dallas on May 13 and signed with the Raiders four days later.