NEW YORK (Reuters) - The New York Jets placed veteran offensive lineman Damien Woody on injured reserve on Wednesday, shelving him for this weekend's AFC divisional playoff showdown with the New England Patriots.
Woody suffered an Achilles injury and underwent surgery on Wednesday. He had missed the last three regular-season games due to a knee injury but returned for the first-round postseason matchup with the Indianapolis Colts on Saturday.
"It's really unfortunate," Jets coach Rex Ryan told the team's website (newyorkjets.com).
"He played almost the whole game (at Indianapolis). He was a little wobbly after the game. It wasn't his knee. It was his Achilles' tendon."
Wayne Hunter will take Woody's spot in the lineup.
The Jets are trying to advance to the AFC Championship for the second consecutive year but they will need to get past bitter divisional rivals New England, who destroyed them in a 45-3 rout in their last regular-season meeting on Dec 6.
(Writing by Jahmal Corner in Los Angeles; Editing by Peter Rutherford)
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