GREEN BAY, Wis. -- Charles Woodson has made his mark in the NFL for more than 10 years and most recently with the Green Bay Packers the last 2½ years.
The 32-year-old cornerback, however, was made to feel like a rookie all over again when he went through the Packers' full practice Friday.
"You've got to hear everybody talking about, 'Who's the new guy out here at practice?"' Woodson said of the playful ribbing he took from teammates.
Woodson, a four-time Pro Bowl selection, hadn't participated in all phases of a practice since he broke a toe in the Packers' opening win over the Minnesota Vikings on Sept. 8.
The injury didn't prevent Woodson from playing in any games the last two months, but he had been excused from on-field work on most practice days.
"Just visiting with him yesterday, he felt that he was back to where he would like to practice, instead of doing all of his work on treadmills and so forth," Packers coach Mike McCarthy said after practice Friday. "It was good for him to get some live reps today."
Besides running on a treadmill and working out in the weight room, Woodson stayed busy away from the practice field by running in the team's training pool at Lambeau Field the last few weeks.
"That helps out a great deal; it takes a lot of stress off of it," said Woodson, referring to the fractured small toe on his right foot.
As far as Woodson can tell, the toe no longer is broken.
"I haven't taken another X-ray in about, I guess, three or four weeks," he said. "The way it feels, it's got to be right."
In a change from earlier in the season, Woodson doesn't need to wear a shoe with a hole cut out of the side, which gave the toe some relief. Woodson said, though, he would continue to wear a cast-like shield over his right shoe on gameday as a way to protect the toe from further damage.
"It gets a little sore, but I guess that's to be expected," Woodson said. "But, as far as broke, I think it's good."
Woodson has overcome the lingering injury by having one of his most productive seasons as a pro.
Magicfan1423 
