GREEN BAY – It was a somber trip back from Washington D.C. for Mike Daniels and the rest of the Packers' defensive line on Sunday evening.

Independent of the team's 31-17 loss at FedExField, Daniels had to come to terms with the sight of the empty seat next to him on the team charter to Green Bay.

It's a spot typically reserved for his close friend and linemate, Muhammad Wilkerson, who was held back at a D.C. area hospital after being carted off the field with an ankle injury at the two-minute warning in the first half.

Head Coach Mike McCarthy said Monday that the two-time All-Pro defensive lineman required a procedure in the hours after the game, and while no specific timelines were given, McCarthy confirmed the injury is believed to be "significant."

It's a tough blow for a defensive line that had big plans for Wilkerson, who played 92 defensive snaps (64.3 percent) across the line of scrimmage in the first two games of the season.

"You never want to see anybody go down, you don't want to see your worst enemy go down out there," Daniels said. "So when you see one of your buddies go down, that makes it even worse. Mo and I are pretty close. I texted him and let him know that I've got family out here, so he'll be well taken care of whatever he needs. That's my brother there."

After lamenting the loss of his fellow New Jerseyan, Daniels acknowledged it's up to "the original four" of himself, Kenny Clark, Dean Lowry and Montravius Adams to step up in Wilkerson's absence.