Aug 13, 2015; San Diego, CA, USA; San Diego Chargers running back Danny Woodhead (39) is congratulated by teammates after running for a touchdown during the first quarter against the Dallas Cowboys in a preseason NFL football game at Qualcomm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports
Danny Woodhead could only avoid contact for so long.
He wove between two Cowboys defenders and strode into the end zone, untouched. But soon after, the diminutive running back was swarmed by a host of his own Chargers teammates.
They all missed No. 39 after a season on the shelf.
"It was great to see the little fellow run between the tackles again," guard D.J. Fluker told the team's official website.
You'd be hard-pressed to find a player in the Bolts locker room who disagrees. Woodhead, a key cog in San Diego's offense two season ago, had to miss the entire year with a leg injury.
They welcomed him back in style on Friday night, though. Head coach Mike McCoy dialed up something special for Woodhead on his first carry -- a shotgun draw on third-and-4.
It all went according to plan. The pride of Chadron State found the end zone easily.
"We had talked about going to him all week," Philip Rivers said after the game. "If we got into the red zone, we were going to run it."
Added Rivers: "He was excited so I know it felt good for him. It's been a long time since he carried (the ball) in a game, so that part was a highlight for certain."
(h/t San Diego Chargers) Jake Roth - USA TODAY Sports
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