Packers: Next man up after loss of Woodson

[Travis Duncan]

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By Travis Duncan
Packer Forum writer

Charles Woodson will miss about six weeks with a broken collarbone. That's a huge loss for a secondary already renowned for its struggles.

Woodson has played 95.9 percent of the Packers' defensive snaps this season, missing just 21 snaps, according to ESPN.

Add that to the loss of Cedric Benson and it would seem that it just isn't the Packers year.

But Green Bay is in the midst of the soft part of its schedule. This week's opponent the Jacksonville Jaguars, travels to Lambeau at 1-5, and have a lone win against a bad Indianapolis team on a fluke play. The Jags will also be without running back Maurice Jones Drew. In two weeks, Arizona is not an elite team, having lost three straight. Then comes the bye week. Then things get tough with games against Detroit, New York Giants, Minnesota, and then Chicago on Dec. 16. A six week rehab for Woodson would put him inline to play against Chicago Week 15, and likely on a Packer team fighting for a playoff spot.

But realistically as high as expectations are the Packers really are in a much better spot than they were two weeks ago. A lot of that has to do with the elevated play of Aaron Rodgers.

In the last two games, Rodgers has 780 yards, nine touchdown passes, no interceptions, a 73.0 completion percentage and a passer rating of 140.8, as complied by the Green Bay Press Gazette.

"It's a bigger challenge, I mean we're talking about Charles Woodson," said head coach Mike McCarthy on Monday.

McCarthy said he's very comfortable with every man on the roster.

M.D. Jennings, Jerron McMillian, Casey Hayward and Davon House all will see the field more with the loss of Woodson.

"The reality is we fully expect and plan for the next individuals to continue and play better defense. That's our goal every week regardless of how we line up. It's been a hard couple of weeks for us. But with that, our younger players are prepared."