Wood started consecutive games for the White Sox in 1976, pitching in their ninth game on April 23 and their 10th game five days later, though he lost both of them. His 1976 campaign was cut short on May 9 when a line-drive single hit by Ron LeFlore fractured his left kneecap in the sixth inning of a 4–2 White Sox victory over Detroit at Tiger Stadium. He had surgery the next day and was out for the rest of the season. In seven starts, he had posted a 4–3 record, a 2.24 ERA, 31 strikeouts, 11 walks, and 51 hits allowed in innings pitched.