Charles Woodson out six weeks with broken collarbone

[Lake Louise]

The Green Bay Packers have improved their defense this season, but they now face the heart of their schedule without one of their best players.

FOX Sports insider and NFL Network contributor Jay Glazer reported Monday that safety Charles Woodson will miss six weeks with a broken collarbone, the same one he broke in Super Bowl XLV.

The news comes out of left field. There was no hint of Woodson's injury during Sunday's 30-20 win over the St. Louis Rams.

Woodson recorded five total tackles in the game and was on the field for 50 of the Rams' 60 snaps.

The 15-year veteran has seen his play decline in recent years, but the Packers aren't likely to shelve him for the season. After moving from cornerback to free safety, Woodson has posted 38 tackles and 1½ sacks. He's also forced a fumble and tallied an interception and brings unmatched experience to an otherwise developing secondary.

His play against the run has been solid, but the Packers will struggle to replace his leadership on a defense that's improved from among the worst in the NFL last season to 14th through seven games in 2012. Woodson has been a central figure on the Packers since 2006.

If he plays again this year, the six-week timetable would place his return at Week 14, but that would mark a quick recovery from an injury suffered twice in as many years.

Damn, I'm upset about this. Woodson is one of my favorite players. Seems that after each week, this team is getting more and more injuries on the defensive side. A team only has so much depth, but without a guy like Woodson for this long, It's like losing a guy like Ray Lewis, Champ Bailey, those emotional team leaders, as well as great players.