New York Jets’ Damien Woody placed on injured reserve
Even before stepping onto the field against the New England Patriots, the New York Jets have already had suffered a loss. Offensive tackle Damien Woody has been placed on injured reserve on Wednesday, according to head coach Rex Ryan.
Ryan said that Woody sustained an Achilles’ tendon injury and that he had surgery on Wednesday. He now needs four to six months of rehabilitation and will most likely be as good as new by June.
The injury to his left leg comes shortly after he underwent arthroscopic surgery to repair his right knee, which kept him out for the last three games of the regular season. He was injured again, when he returned to play in their Wild Card game against
the Indianapolis Colts.
"It (the injury) was on the last drive [of Saturday's playoff victory]," Ryan said. "I never knew the extent of it."
He added, "It's unfortunate. He worked his tail off to get back and has a great challenge against him with [Indianapolis' Robert] Mathis, and did a great job and was getting ready to play his old team."
However, Woody is not the only starter on the Jets’ offensive line who is injured. Right guard Brandon Moore sustained a back injury while weight lifting on Tuesday, but said that he should be ready to play on Sunday against the Pats in the AFC division
game.
"It's a non-issue," Moore said. "It'll be all right by Sunday. I'll treat it and be ready to go."
Moore wasn’t able to practice with Woody’s backup, Wayne Hunter because of the injury. With Moore out, Rob Turner stepped in as right guard. While Woody was out with a knee injury for the final three games of the season, Hunter started in his place.
"[Woody] is one of the best offensive tackles out there if not the best right tackle," Hunter said. "So I think it will always mess up the chemistry a little bit, but since I've been playing against Pittsburgh and Chicago, it [could] be more. I don't think
it will be that much of a change."
The 315-pound tackle also came in for Woody for the last three plays of the game on Sunday, after Woody injured his Achilles.
Jets Coach Rex Ryan said, "We are fortunate, I've always said that we've had the best backup tackle in the league in Wayne Hunter and he has played a lot of football for us. We have a lot of confidence in Wayne."
The Jets will play the Patriots on Sunday, 16 January at Gillette Stadium.
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