POLL: Welker's status for the start of the 2010 season

[Ian]

I joked on Twitter last night that I thought each report about him "progressing well" should be a "drinking game" considering the amount of articles we've read about him over the past week and probably will continue to read. Needless to say I thought I'd throw this out to see if we couldn't get see what everyone else feels. Considering it was just his ACL and watching the video I saw and listening to some reports from those who saw him at his camp recently, count me in the "Ready for the opener" group - I think four more months of rehab will hopefully see him on the field in September. Obviously how the other receivers play will factor into whether Belichick decides to give him the extra time and sit him through the bye week on PUP.

Although I'm just throwing it out there and it's just for fun considering it's May - but I'm curious to see what others think.

 

[efin98]

Repeat of the Chad Jackson situation from a few years ago- PUP to start the season then coming in around Week 10. Worst case he isn't a factor until week 12.

 

[Ian]

Repeat of the Chad Jackson situation from a few years ago- PUP to start the season then coming in around Week 10. Worst case he isn't a factor until week 12.

I agree, but I think the it will depend on how they move the ball well during the preseason with some of the new guys - they'll likely sit him if they think they can win without him. Although I do believe we'll see him before that late in the season...

 

[miDeuce]

My uneducated guess: Oct 31 vs. Minny.

 

[Ian]

My uneducated guess: Oct 31 vs. Minny.

If I had to make another guess I'd say San Diego - that one could have playoff seeding implications.

 

[VrabelMayeWin]

In between for me. We have a Week 5 bye, I expect him on the 53 but not playing the first 4 weeks. That way he can practice with the offense the first month and be ready for Week 6 against the Ravens. That gives him extra time but gets him back several weeks earlier than if he's PUPed and can't practice until Week 7.

 

[Buchanty]

Much as I would like 83 back for the beginning of the season, I think it would not only be optimistic it may be premature. We need Wes in the months of the long nights and cold weather not in the early season. I suspect the Pats organization will not try to push him back too soon, and I will hazard a guess that his first appearance will be after the bye at the soonest.

 

[Kontradiction]

In between for me. We have a Week 5 bye, I expect him on the 53 but not playing the first 4 weeks. That way he can practice with the offense the first month and be ready for Week 6 against the Ravens. That gives him extra time but gets him back several weeks earlier than if he's PUPed and can't practice until Week 7.

A while back, didn't you say something to the effect of betting money on him starting Week 1?

 

[Brady2Welker]

Up until now I've said that I expect him to show up around halfway through the season, but honestly I just think it should be when hes going to be at maximum efficiency. If he can play 100% at week 1, and has a clean bill of health, then send him in. But if he needs to take his time to heal up a bit more to be at 100%, than I'm fine with that. For someone who plays like he does, if he's not capable of performing at his level, then he might just be better off healing while returning to top form.

 

[VrabelMayeWin]

A while back, didn't you say something to the effect of betting money on him starting Week 1?

I think he'll be able to play Week 1 and I think if it were a playoff game he would play Week 1 (assuming no setbacks, of course). I go back and forth on whether they'll play him Week 1 or play it a little more conservative. I'm leaning towards the latter right now but if he's on the Opening Day 53 that's enough for me to think that he's basically ready. That Week 5 bye week is a little tempting to get a free bonus week off before "The Return".

 

[Jared]

I expect him to be on the 53, just inactive for the first few weeks unless we absolutely need him. This would at least allow him to keep practicing with the team. And really, unless there is a rash of TC injuries, it is unlikely to seriously hurt the roster depth.

 

[eom]

If I had to make another guess I'd say San Diego - that one could have playoff seeding implications.

I understand the point, and I'm not bein' funny, as the english say, but take a look at the typical seedings --- all these games have seeding implications.

I won't claim to know belichick, but it would really surprise me if he's got a week circled on the calendar.
he rolls with whoever can go, and I doubt he's thinking one guy will make or break the team.

if there was maybe one exception to that, it'd be the doomsday scenario we saw when brady went down, but they went on to win 11 games without even him.

 

[efin98]

I agree, but I think the it will depend on how they move the ball well during the preseason with some of the new guys - they'll likely sit him if they think they can win without him. Although I do believe we'll see him before that late in the season...

They are not going to rush him back any earlier than possible, he will get all the time he requires regardless of how the team plays in the preseason or Weeks 1-7.

The best game for him to return by my estimate would be Week 9 against the Browns. That gives him two weeks of practice and an easier team to face in his first game before they throw him out there against Pittsburgh and Indianapolis. Worst case, he comes back on Thanksgiving against the Lions.

 

[BradyBranch39]

neither. I'm going with inactive for the first 2 or 3 weeks.

 

[DocE]

I think Welker will start the year on PUP. 2 weeks ago I would have been shocked if this wasn't the case. Now, I'd only be surprised if Welker was not on the PUP to begin the year. The fact that he seems to be making quick progress combined with the teams early bye, means that Wes either is on the 53 in week 1 or can't play until week 8 (6 games plus the bye week makes me at least open to the possiblility that Welker may not be placed on PUP. I still would be absolutely shocked if he played week 1, but I could see a scenario where the Patriots think he'll be ready before week 8 and carry him on the 53. Last year, the Pats kept Fred Taylor on the 53 for a long time in the hopes that he would be healthy late in the year. I only bring that up because there is little comparison between the players value to the team, so the Patriots might keep Wes on the 53 even if they only think it gives them a game or two more.

I still think it's really optomistic to think that a player who tore his ACL in the final regular season game would be ready to go prior to week 8. I think that's especially true when the players entire game depends on quick cuts and getting in/out of breaks.

 

[PatsFanSince74]

I voted PUP, but only because I don't think he plays on opening day. Based on the optimistic reports, I see him on the roster from the beginning and playing sometime in Sept/Oct.

 

[Criptonite]

I see I'm in the minority here, but I don't think there's any question he'll be put on the PUP and I think there's a decent chance he's put on the IR. It's just too severe of an injury for someone who plays like he does and it happened way too late in the season. Medical technology is always getting better, so hopefully I'm wrong and he's able to heal quicker than expected. I hate to be a downer, but I'd be absolutely shocked if he played week 1 and I'd be a bit surprised if he played at all this year.

 

[TBradyOwnsYou]

If his game was running downfield fast and jumping high, I'd say he has potential to play early. But his game depends on his knees being able to move in ways a lot more complex and taxing than just running and jumping. PUP for sure if only to not risk reinjury by coming back too early.

 

[MoLewisrocks]

Barring a setback he looks to be on pace to avoid reserve PUP, although he will certainly be placed on active PUP at the start of camp. I do think the way the bye falls they could be inclined to carry him on the active roster and perhaps limit him to rotating with mini me for the first four games to ease him back into live action. I don't think we will see him on ST this season. But either way I think he's the starting slot receiver by week 6 (if he doesn't start the season on reserve PUP) or week 7 (if he does). PUP is measured in game weeks not team games so if he is Pupped he's eligible to start practicing after our 5th game in week 6 and play in our 6th game in week 7.

I think we need a third option for this poll which is may not start week 1 but on the 53 and plays sometime in September...

 

[signbabybrady]

I say he is ready for the start of the season and I even think he comes off the PUP during TC likely the week before the first or second preseason game and I wouldn't be surprised if he sees action in one of them.