NFL: Green Bay Packers safety Charles Woodson facing six weeks out with broken collarbone

Charles Woodson: Broken collarbone

Green Bay's star safety Charles Woodson is facing six weeks on the sidelines after suffering a broken collarbone in Sunday's win at St Louis.

There was little indication that the 15-year veteran had sustained the break at the Edward Jones Dome, as he was on the field for 50 of the Rams' 60 offensive plays.

But Packers coach Mike McCarthy has confirmed Woodson broke the same collarbone that he fractured during the Packer's Super Bowl victory in 2011.

"It's a bigger challenge, we are talking about Charles Woodson," McCarthy said. "The reality is we expect the next individual to step up and we expect to continue to play better defense.

"This has been a hard couple of weeks, losing players to season-ending injuries," added McCarthy, referring to the loss of linebackers DJ Smith and Desmond Bishop to long-term injuries.

Pro Bowl ace Woodson moved from cornerback to free safety this season and has recorded 38 tackles and one-and-a-half sacks in seven games, while forcing one fumble and claiming one interception.

Woodson's position as the leader of an inexperienced secondary has helped boost the Packers' defensive ranking this season, and his loss is another huge blow to their play-off aspirations.