Monday, December 16, 2002
Updated: December 18, 11:42 PM ET
Raiders unsure, but Woodson vows to play on broken leg
Associated Press
ALAMEDA, Calif. -- Charles Woodson is not going to let injury sideline him any longer.
The Oakland Raiders' star cornerback insists he will play this week despite having a crack in the fibula bone of his right leg.
When Woodson revealed the severity of his injury Monday, it came
as a surprise because the Raiders had initially listed him as
having an injured ankle. Then it became a leg injury, with no
details provided on the change.
Woodson, who missed seven weeks early in the season with a
broken right shoulder, said he hurt his leg in Oakland's 26-20
Monday night win over the New York Jets on Dec. 2. He missed the
next two games, including the 23-17 loss at Miami on Sunday.
"I'm playing this week,'' he said, noting he will try to return
punts, too. "If I'm in the game, I'll try to do whatever. Just go
all out whatever it is. I'm just looking forward to getting back on
the field.''
Woodson said he told the team doctors and trainers that he plans
to play Sunday in the Raiders' home game against the Denver
Broncos. Oakland (9-5) can clinch a playoff spot with a win.
Woodson has had a hard time running on the leg because the
pressure is too great. But he is convinced his body is ready to
return, and plans to play through the pain.
Woodson did not practice Wednesday.
"These games are important,'' he said. "I feel like physically
I'll be ready to go. I feel good right now, I feel better. It's
getting better every day. I've got to go.''
He knows the Broncos will go after him.
"I don't care about that,'' he said. "I go out there and play
how I'm going to play. I don't worry that they're testing me. I can
take it.''
Coach Bill Callahan would not speculate when Woodson would play
again.
"Given the situation, I don't know if Woodson will be back
tomorrow, Thursday, Friday or will be back two weeks or two months
from now. I have no idea,'' Callahan said.
The Raiders are already thin in their secondary and special
teams and could use Woodson. Rookie cornerback and punt returner
Phillip Buchanon is out for the year with a broken left wrist, kick
returner Terry Kirby also is done for the year with a broken leg,
and cornerback Tory James had surgery Thursday to repair a
fractured right fibula and will miss one-to-three weeks.
Woodson and James have almost the same injury, but Woodson
didn't require surgery.
"That's how it is,'' Woodson said. "It'll just be pretty much
a pain thing, but I feel like it'll hold up. I'm going to go out
there and play hard and give it everything I've got.''
Even though he's been sidelined so much, Woodson isn't looking
at this season as a loss.
"I get frustrated at times, but I was thinking about it the
other day and I was thinking to myself, if this is the worst I have
to go through in life, then I consider myself pretty lucky,'' he
said.
