Over the past ten years there has not been a more dominant and skilled defensive back in the NFL than Charles Woodson.
The cornerback has been the leader of the Green Bay Packers defense and won AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2009, the season before he helped the team to a Super Bowl victory. But the Packers will have to live without him for a while, as Woodson broke his collarbone and will miss at least six weeks while he recovers.
Coach Mike McCarthy confirmed the injury on Monday and said Woodson broke his collarbone in the Packers 30-20 win over the St. Louis Rams on Sunday. Woodson previously had an injury in the same area in the 2011 Super Bowl when he broke his clavicle and had to leave the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
"He was a little nervous about it last night," McCarthy said when he addressed reporters. "If you've seen the play, it was a very similar action as he experienced in the Super Bowl."
The 36-year-old was hurt with just under three minutes left in the game against the Rams after he dove to defend a pass from quarterback Sam Bradford to receiver Brando Gibson. Woodson toughed it out for another play, but had to leave before the next snap.
"You saw him protecting his one shoulder," defensive coordinator Dom Capers said. "He kind of hit (Smith) with one shoulder and kind of walked away. So you could tell that he hurt his shoulder on that play. But I went to him in the locker room after the game and he wasn't sure. He definitely said it was when he dove to make the interception."
The Packers have been dealing with injuries to the secondary this season and played on Sunday without linebacker Nick Perry, tackle B.J. Raji, corner Sam Shields and linebacker D.J Smith.
The coaches said that Woodson would return this season and that it should be about six weeks depending on the rehabilitation.
"Well, just knowing Charles, all I have to go on is him in the past," said Capers. He's been doing this long enough that he knows his body and he's kept himself in tremendous condition or he wouldn't be playing at his age right now and be able to play at the level he's played.
The Packers could use Woodson's roster spot by placing him on injured reserve and designate him to return, but the team has already used that spot on running back Cedric Benson.
"There'll have to be some other guys pick up the leadership role," Capers said. "Obviously, Charles is a leader. He's been a very productive guy on the field and that's the way you develop into a leader. I think there's an awful lot of respect for him. Now, we've got to have some other guys step up and produce."
Amazingly, Woodson has played started in 100 of 103 games that he has played with the Packers, according to ESPN.com. Woodson has been a star ever since winning the Heisman trophy while playing in college at Michigan.
Woodson became a top-level corner with the Oakland Raiders, but has become an elite defensive back since joining the Packers. He has been healthy for the majority of his career and according to ESPN, Woodson has played the fourth-most snaps (95.9 percent) on the Packers defense this year.
"According to ESPN Stats & Info, Woodson's nine interceptions returned for touchdowns are three more than any other defensive back in the league during his tenure with the Packers."
The Packers host the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday and have a relatively easy upcoming schedule that may allow them to survive without Woodson. Following the Jaguars the Packers have another home game against the Arizona Cardinals before a bye week, giving Woodson another chance to recover without missing an actual game.
Things get tougher in Week 11 with consecutive road games against the Detroit Lions and the defending champion New York Giants, but by then, Woodson should be returning soon.
Even if the team splits the next two games, they are sitting in a much better spot now than they were following a tough loss at the Colts that left them at 2-3 on the year. The Bears and Vikings lead the division but the Packers till have three games left against the two teams.
