Bad break for Sir Charles

Posted by Mark Daniels on

The game was well in hand.  The Packers were up 27-13 with just over three minutes to play last Sunday at the Edward Jones Dome.  The St. Louis Rams had the ball in their territory.  On third and 10, Sam Bradford threw a short out route to the right to Brandon Gibson who made the five yard grab in front of a diving Charles Woodson.  The Packers veteran landed hard on his left shoulder trying to break up the pass.  He shook off the hurt, stayed on the field for a 4th down play that gained only four yards.  Steve Smith was gingerly bumped by Woodson's right shoulder before Morgan Burnett brought him down.  Woodson stayed on the bench for the Rams final drive, got dressed, flew home and woke up sore Monday morning.  Feeling nervous about the pain, eerily similar to the jolt he received when he dove to break up a Pittsburgh Steeler pass in Super Bowl XLV, Woodson saw head coach Mike McCarthy on Monday.  They decided to have some x-rays taken and the results revealed a broken collarbone.  Woodson will now be sidelined for up to six weeks.  A bad medical month just became worse for the Pack.  While Woodson hasn't been the huge on-field force this season, one interception, one forced fumble, there's no way you can underestimate the knowledge, experience and leadership he brings to the team every Sunday.  McCarthy said at his Monday press conference it will likely be a collective effort to replace Woodson on the field.  M.D. Jennings might take his spot at safety in the base defense, Jerron McMillian, the rookie from Maine could cover in nickel or dime formations and Davon House, himself back from a lengthy shoulder injury might factor into the sub-packages covering the inside slot.   Defensive coordinator Dom Capers will consider the possibilities and personel groupings during practice this week.  Capers joked the safety spot was the last of the healthy position groups.  The defensive line has had to deal without B.J. Raji for the last two weeks, the linebacking corps has already lost Desmond Bishop and his replacement D.J. Smith for the season and on the corners, Sam Shields didn't play last week in St. Louis. Prior to the past two weeks, there was a lot of talk why this team had yet to resemble the 2011 offensvie force and now it's looking a lot more like the 2010 Packers, ravaged by injury with 15 players on injured reserve.  That team of course, found a way to embrace the "next man up" mentality all the way to their 13th world championship.  That effort may be required again with the Jacksonville Jaguars coming to town Sunday.  On the link below, the comments from McCarthy, Capers and a couple of players impacted by the injury to Sir Charles, when that game was in hand.

Charles hits the shelf

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