FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- The long, strange year of Patriots receiver Wes Welker continues. Think back to last season’s Super Bowl loss, and t...
Think back to last season’s Super Bowl loss, and there is no doubt about who stands out as the goat. Welker dropped what could have been a touchdown with about four minutes to play and the Patriots leading by two points. Since then, the four-time Pro Bowl selection who averaged 98.1 yards on 7.6 catches per game last year has been trending downward in New England.
That was clear when the Patriots took the field Sunday against the Cardinals for their Gillette Stadium opener, a game they would eventually lose, 20-18. Noticeably absent in the huddle was Welker, who was replaced by all-purpose wideout Julian Edelman. Welker stayed on the sidelines for the Patriots’ first two possessions (their first possession ended after one play), and only entered the game after tight end Aaron Hernandez injured his ankle.
Welker wound up with good numbers, five catches and 90 yards. But he didn’t catch his first pass until two minutes remained in the first half -- the 558th catch of his Patriots career, breaking Troy Brown’s franchise record. Most of Welker’s opportunities came late in the game, and over the course of the day, Edelman lined up as the No. 2 receiver more frequently than Welker.
This followed a Week 1 outing in which Welker was targeted just five times and made three catches for 14 yards in a win over the Titans. Both Welker and quarterback Tom Brady downplayed the lack of production, but the Patriots’ offense -- at least with a healthy Hernandez -- seems to have shifted away from Welker.
Welker shrugged off that reality after the game when asked whether coach Bill Belichick had told him he might have a reduced role.
“I never know,” Welker said. “I always just prepare myself to be ready and when my number is called, I just go out there and just try to make plays whenever I get an opportunity.”
All of this could be a harbinger considering this might be Welker’s last year in New England. Over the summer, he failed to agree to a long-term contract agreement with the Patriots. The team brought him back using the franchise tag, paying him $9.5 million for this season. He wants something in the range of $10 million per year, but the Patriots won’t give out that much.
Welker said after the game there were no disciplinary or injury issues involved in his starting the game on the bench. And though he's putting the best face he can on getting fewer targets, he hinted he's not happy about the situation.
“You know, I mean, you want to be out there, as a competitor and everything else, especially on Sunday, it’s what we play for and what we work for,” Welker said. “You want to be out there but at the same time, coach felt like whatever was best for the team and I am for that. I totally understand that. I’m just going to help out however I can.”
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