It was the sight that no Boro fan wanted to see.
Or any true football fan for that matter. Boro's 2-1 win over Wolves on Tuesday was an almost perfect evening as the Riverside faithful answered Aitor Karanka's passionate plea for a final push over the line.
So imagine Jonathan Woodgate's disappointment when he pulled up lame just after the hour mark, with the game hanging in the balance.
But his anguish is more severe than merely missing the final half hour against Wolves. Everyone thought the same as he walked down the tunnel.
Fans crossed their fingers in hope, but the same question crossed everyone's mind. Have we just seen Woody's last-ever appearance on a football pitch?
Karanka has long stressed that his captain's role at Boro is far more than just a centre-back.
He's the experienced head in the dressing room, he's the wise mentor who has seen it all, and he's the leader. That won't change - even if his latest hamstring strain does rule him out of the rest of the season.
Woody's voice will continue to echo around the corridors of Rockliffe Park until the last ball is kicked. But it's so disappointing to think that the 35-year-old, possibly the greatest natural English defender of his generation, may never kick a ball again.
That's certainly high praise, but fully justified in my view. Had he avoided such a terrible run of injuries throughout his career, he surely would have won more than 100 England caps.
He'd be mentioned under the same breath as Bobby Moore, The Gazette's Boro editor Philip Tallentire claimed earlier this season.
It's hard to disagree with that.
From his humble beginnings at Elland Road to the dazzling spotlight of the Santiago Bernabeu, the name of Jonathan Woodgate is known - and on the most part, respected. Immediately after the Wolves match, the press sat down with Karanka and Woody's name came up very quickly.
Everyone wanted an update on the Nunthorpe-born defender's fitness. It was the news that none of us wanted to hear.
"I'm concerned, especially for Woody," Karanka said, clearly disappointed.
"He's played no more than five or six games this season. I think it's going to be more than one or two weeks (on the sidelines). I don't think he can play (at Norwich) on Friday."
Middlesbrough's Jonathan Woodgate applauds the fans at the end of the game
It took the gloss off a memorable night at the Riverside. If Boro go on to clinch promotion this season, surely Woody's role won't be underestimated.
He has played a handful of games, eight to be exact. One of those was at Oldham earlier this season in the Capital One Cup. His next was at Blackpool when he headed Boro into the lead at Bloomfield Road.
A spell on the sidelines followed again, but the 4-1 win over Ipswich was when Woody showed his class again. And he has ever since.
Woody has been an integral member of this Boro team this season, in so many ways. But what does the future hold for him? Well, in the short-term he'll surely do everything in his power to get back fit.
He'll encourage his teammates, offer a shoulder and give advice to his teammates. Should Boro have to go through the play-offs, there's a chance that Woody could yet play a crucial part."
For us, (Woody's role) is not just on the pitch or on the bench. He brings us a lot of experience and support," Karanka said.
Fingers crossed his latest setback is not as bad as we all fear. This is a man who was only recently talked out of retirement from Karanka.
The Spaniard said no conversation will happen with his captain regarding his future until the end of the season.
"I’ve been speaking with (Woodgate) for a year-and-a-half, every single day,” Karanka said recently.
“Both of us know the best thing is to manage it day-by-day, because we can forget that five months ago he was thinking about retiring.
“We need to finish this season and then Woody can do whatever he wants, because for me he’s an amazing player and an amazing man."
If Boro do get promoted, wouldn't it be great if Woody could be part of one last Premier League campaign?
His sparkling career deserves one last hurrah. But sometimes it's not meant to be - and all we can now do is wait, and hope that the diagnosis is generous.
Whatever happens in the short-term and beyond the summer, Woody will always be a red and have an eternal place in the hearts of Boro fans.
And for that, we are very happy.
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