Wes Welker Is In Atlanta, Still May Not Play

Wes Welker made the trip with the Patriots to Atlanta for their upcoming preseason game against the Falcons, but there’s no guarantee whether or not he will play in this or any other preseason game.

Belichick was asked on WEEI Monday if Welker would see any on-field action in the preseason.

“We’ll see how that goes,” Belichick said. “I wouldn’t rule it out, but I wouldn’t say it’s a definite either. We’ll just take it day by day, just like with everybody else.”

Wes Welker Could Miss Preseason Opener

Wes Welker will be a game-time decision for Thursday’s preseason opener, as the Patriots’ coaching staff attempts to determine how fully he has recovered from surgery to repair a torn ACL and MCL suffered in the final week of last year’s regular season.

Bill Belichick was, as usual, not particularly revealing on the subject:

“I don’t know. I’m not saying he will. I’m not saying he won’t. We’ll evaluate it and see.”

With it having been a distinct possibility that Welker wouldn’t return until well into the season, however, missing the first game of the preseason would hardly be a major blow to the Patriots.

Wes Welker Placed On Active/Physically Unable To Perform List

Wes Welker, who is in the midst of a remarkable recovery from surgery on both his MCL and ACL in February, has been placed on the active/physically unable to perform list before the start of training camp, according to ESPN Boston's Mike Reiss.

This is not the same as going on the PUP to start the regular season -- that requires the player to sit out at least the first six games. Welker's move is largely "more procedural than anything," and he is available to come off the list at any time. He is not counting toward the Patriots' 80-man training camp roster.

The Globe's Shalise Manza Young, confirmed the report, and added that New England "likely isn't ready to medically clear him yet." It's not being looked at as a set-back -- Welker is still on schedule with his recovery.

The Patriots also put OLB Shawn Crable and DL Kade Weston active/physically unable to perform list.

Wes Welker To Have Full Participation In Training Camp

So much for the Physically Unable to Perform list. Less then seven months after tearing his ACL and MCL, reports now say that Welker is, amazingly enough, scheduled to be a full participant in the Patriots’ training camp.

While Welker certainly isn’t ready to go just yet, and there’s no guarantee that he will even be playing in week one, this is fantastic news for the Patriots. They will not be without their star slot receiver for long next season, if at all.

Wes Welker Still On Schedule To Make Remarkable Early Return

We’ve been hearing about it for weeks now and all have our hopes up – Wes Welker may just do the impossible and return from a torn ACL late last season for the start of the new 2010 campaign.

With just about two weeks to go before training camp commences, Welker is still feeling better each day and hopeful that he’ll be able to lace up with his teammates when the Patriots start the new year against the Cincinnati Bengals on September 12th.

On Wednesday, Welker joined FOX Sports Radio to talk about how he was feeling, the possibility of Terrell Owens joining the Patriots’ WR corps and a few other topics. I’ve shared a few choice quotes from the interview

On his knee:
"It is doing well kind of plugging along getting in more of a training mode than a rehab mode. It has been going good so far, taking it a day at a time."

On T.O. possibly joining the fold:
"He is obviously a great talent and a great player and….whatever coach thinks, he is going to do what is best for the team and if that is what it is we are all for it and looking to move ahead. At the end of the day it comes down to the coach’s decision. I am really happy with the guys that we have got. I think we really have a good group of wideouts that are going to work hard and give everything we have got for each other and that is the way that we need to be."

Speculation Surfaces That Wes Welker Could Be Available For Week 1

First, there was the surprise in early June of Wes Welker running routes with the Patriots at mini-camp, just four months after surgery to repair a torn ACL. Now comes the speculation that he could be ready to play by Week 1.

Well, a Week 1 return from Welker is certainly a possibility (if not a probability), and there is precedent for that kind of speedy return. That's not to say anything should be assumed, just that the nature of his injury and history of those returning from him give indications that it wouldn't be stunning at all to see him playing against Cincinnati. The bigger question may revolve around how effective he can be early on.

The scenario is probably more likely: Welker starting the season on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list, meaning he would not be eligible to play until Week 6. We'll know a lot more come July 29.

Wes Welker Not Surprised By Quick Return

Wes Welker was back on the field at the Patriots OTAs Monday. When Wes took the field last Wednesday, though, he didn't expect to be the center of attention.

"I didn’t think it’d be that big a deal..." Welker told The Boston Globe's Albert Breer. "...I feel pretty good out there. I still need to get back in the groove of playing ball and doing some things like that. But everything’s feeling alright right now." Welker repeatedly stressed the importance of taking his injury and recovery on a day-to-day basis.

While Patriots fans will have bad memories of wondering if Tom Brady would be ready a full year after his ACL injury, Welker's is apparently an entirely different story. Opening day, though not exactly likely, is not out of the realm of possibility.

When early reports had him possibly on the physically unable to play list and out for the first seven weeks of the season, that's very good news.

Wes Welker On Field At OTA, Runs Routes With Team

While Tuesday brought Tom Brady and Randy Moss to the Patriots' OTA, Wednesday offered a much bigger surprise: Wes Welker.

The Boston Globe's Albert Breer first tweeted the news, seemingly in disbelief himself.

That Welker, who tore both his MCL and ACL just five months ago in a game in Houston, was on the field in uniform was surprising. That Welker then participated in the bag drill, which requires "high knees" from players, just four months after surgery to repair his ACL, is nothing short of amazing. Remember, the "typical" recovery time for such an injury is 6-8 months. But Welker was just getting started.

The wide receiver also took part in a cone drill, which involved some light cutting, and then he even ran some routes. 

Then, came passing lines. Welker ran routes with his teammates, and you could see him running in-cuts and squirrel routes and slants. He rounded off his cuts and breaks, which is certainly to be expected, and dropped a ball or two, which is no reason for alarm in May.

Mike Reiss reported that Welker was running at about 75 percent in the drills.

Follow along here for more on Welker's recovery and visit Pats Pulpit for all things Patriots.

A Welcome Site In Foxboro: Moss and Brady Show At Voluntary OTAs

Good news for fans of the three-time Super Bowl champion New England Patriots: Veterans Tom Brady and Randy Moss made an appearance at the team's voluntary OTAs on Tuesday.

After being absent earlier in the offseason while spending time with his wife and son in Los Angeles, Brady arrived to work with his new and old playmakers at wide receiver and tight end. On Monday, Moss told the Boston Herald that he had no intention of being disruptive this year in the Patriots' locker room.

Moss, of course, is in the final year of his contract and doesn't figure to be in the team's long term plans past this season. By showing up to the voluntary workout on Tuesday, Moss took the first step towards proving those words aren't just lip service.

The Patriots will conduct three more days of sessions this week and four days of practices next week. 

Check back here and at Pats Pulpit for more updates from OTAs.