Lost amid all the excitement of the Raiders’ comeback victory over the Ravens Sunday – and the scintillating performances of quarterback Derek Carr and receivers Michael Crabtree and Amari Cooper – was the example set by Charles Woodson.
The veteran safety, who’ll someday be in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, was an inspiration for his teammates.
Woodson suffered a dislocated shoulder in the season-opening loss to Cincinnati, but that shoulder was popped back into place and Woodson wore a harness to secure it, then played the whole game against Baltimore. He was in on four tackles but, more importantly, was a steadying force in the secondary for the team’s young cornerbacks and safeties Larry Asante and Taylor Mays, who were on the field to pick up for injured starter Nate Allen.
“How about Charles Woodson?” Raiders head coach Jack Del Rio said to the gathered Bay Area media after the victory. “How about Charles finding a way to make it out here today? That’s what makes this game so special.”
Woodson said he was determined to play, despite the injury. He knew his team needed him.
After losing the opener to Cincinnati, the Raiders needed to bounce back with a victory in Game 2 to get back on track.
“The name of the game is availability,” Woodson told Vic Tafur of the San Francisco Chronicle. “Once they put my shoulder back in place (last) Sunday, I never intended on missing the game. My mind was made up pretty quickly.”
Sports
Woodson wasn’t reported to have sustained further injury to the shoulder in Game 2, and is expected to play again this Sunday when the Raiders travel to Cleveland to face the Browns.
Said Woodson to Levi Damien of SB Nation: “It’s always better after a win. Injuries aren’t as bad, you’re not as tired after the game. Everything’s better. … If you come out with a W, it’s all good.”
