GREEN BAY – Charles Woodson is the NFC Defensive Player of the Month – again. Could NFL Defensive Player of the Year be far behind?

The Green Bay Packers veteran cornerback will be announced by the NFL as November’s winner on Thursday, but a league source said Wednesday afternoon that Woodson had indeed won the award for the second time this season – and for the third time in his four seasons in Green Bay.

Woodson also won the award in September, and won it in September 2008 as well. Woodson was also named NFC Defensive Player of the Week for his two-interception, one-sack, one-forced fumble performance against the Detroit Lions on Thanksgiving.

In five November games, Woodson had three interceptions (including one that he returned for a touchdown), two sacks, three forced fumbles and 28 tackles.

For the season, Woodson has seven interceptions, two sacks, 12 pass breakups and 60 tackles. His seven interceptions are tied for second in the NFL, behind Buffalo’s Jarius Byrd and New Orleans’ Darren Sharper.

Sharper, Minnesota defensive end Jared Allen, Denver’s Elvis Dumervil and Woodson appear to be the frontrunners for the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year award.