Raider Star CB Likely Out For 2004
March 31, 2003
By Pete Prisco
SportsLine.com Senior Writer
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Sportsline.com learned late Monday night that Raiders All-Pro Cornerback Charles Woodson blew out his left knee in a non-contact off season conditioning drill at the Raiders team complex in Alameda, CA. The news comes at the heals of what already has been a strange 2003 campaign for the 5 time Pro Bowl Cornerback.
Battling a broken shoulder and a cracked bone in his leg this past season, Woodson was looking forward to an injury free 2004 campaign. A source close to the situation has informed Sportsline.com that Woodson is believed to have suffered a full tear to the anterior cruciate ligament in the knee as well as possible damage to the medial and posterior cruciate ligaments. While the typical rehabilitation process lasts over 12 months, Raider officials expect to learn more details following an MRI that is scheduled to take place on Tuesday at the University of San Francisco Medical Center.
As is customary with the Raiders these days, the team has closed its doors to the media and coach Bill Callahan declined to comment on the situation. The irony of injury stems from the fact that this offseason would have marked the first time Woodson has participated in any kind of an offseason conditioning program since entering the league out of Michigan. The timing couldn't be any worse for either Woodson or the Raiders considering Woodson's contract is up with the Raiders at the end of 2004, and that the Raiders run at another Super Bowl will also be over then as well.