Broncos optimistic Wes Welker will be cleared this week

AP

Out of the last 10 times Wes Welker has suited up for a game, he has had to leave the game early because of a concussion three times. The most recent concussion came in the Broncos’ third preseason game, leading to fears that his career may be in jeopardy.

But the Broncos don’t share those fears.

In fact, ESPN reported that there is optimism in Denver about Welker’s status, while the Denver Post reports that Welker is expected to practice on a limited basis today.

The Broncos are also optimistic that Welker could be cleared for a full practice later this week, and to play on Sunday night against the Colts, 15 days after he suffered the concussion.

Is 15 days enough time off for a player who has suffered his third concussion in less than a year? That’s for the Broncos’ medical staff to decide. The decision of the medical staff will be watched closely around the NFL.

51 responses to “Broncos optimistic Wes Welker will be cleared this week

  1. He may get cleared but should he play? Probably not. He’s already had several significant concussions and every hit to the head going forward is going to significantly impact his post football quality of life.

    I’m sure he will be first in line for concussion settlement money after he retires.

    Everyone knows he should retire but noone will force him.

  2. Welker needs to say Thank You for a wonderful career and all the money and go home, hopefully in one piece!!

  3. The brain never heals or rejuvenates bruised cells like your outer skin can after a cut or scrape.
    Five years from now when the guy can’t drive a car or hold an open glass of water without spilling it from shaking, the Broncos will take the approach that he “was fine according to our doctors”.
    You can’t continue to throw this guy out there and allow Manning to throw ducks and allow Welker to try to shrink and get hurt again.
    At some point, the NFL Players Association needs to step in for the benefit of their comrade and let him and the league know that enough is enough and it’s time to retire.

  4. Some athletes handle concussions better than others. As an example, look at boxers – talk about repeated blows to the head. Some of those guys wind up “punch drunk’ and others are unaffected. Let the doctors do what they are paid for – make the decisions.

  5. I would say bring him back with the Gazoo helmet all the time, but if I were Welker I would take the money and retire and spend the next few years trying to prevent the damage to my brain that the last few years caused.

  6. I hope Wes can avoid having more this year. I am sure he wants to finish this year but after that he should really sit down with his wife and decide whats best for his future. Hopefully he can walk away with a Super Bowl win in his last year.

  7. The NFL players association should not be able to make that call for any player. Only the player who suffer’s the concussion/ injury can make the call to end their career. No man has the right to say when it’s time to call it quits for someone else. Just make them not eligible for any concussion lawsuit’s knowing that was the risk they were taking.

  8. He should not play any more.
    Whats wrong with these fools?
    As a former semi pro jock, I sort of get the competitive juices.
    BUT. All those concussions and the little bit they know about them.
    QUIT while your eggs are not scrambled

  9. And come back to what– Manning calling plays which send you over the middle to get you hammered again?

    Hey Wes– ever notice that Manning always quickly throws to avoid hits when a pass rusher is coming but routinely sends you on routes which get you destroyed?

    This is what wives are for. Sitting you down and patiently explaining that It Is Over. You have had a good playing career, have made tons of money, you have a great life.

    It’s time for the next phase.

  10. Opposing defenses are gonna be loading up to hit Welker as much as possible hoping to cause him another concussion to get him out of the game, especially with his habit of going across the middle. I can’t see how he makes it through the season healthy

    I really think players like this need to be saved from themselves sometimes. Former players who had Welker’s mindset are the ones having major health problems now directly caused by concussions. They can’t be insisting on playing through concussions and then suing the league when they’re done. Unfortunately there’s no easy answer for what to do with Welker at this point

  11. If he plays again he shouldn’t be allowed to file for mental disability although if he does play again he is truly mentally disabled

  12. It’s his call and I’m a Bronco fan but as someone who has overcome a brain injury I cannot fathom this being a difficult decision. Retire.

  13. Someone close to Wes needs to really talk to him…

    If he’s married, his wife or his mom or dad, or a brother if he has one etc…

    You’re still so young Wes and you’ve made a lot of money and you won’t get to spend time enjoying your family and to enjoy the fruits of your efforts from the NFL if you keep this up.

    At least you’re not in your 2nd year going through this. You’ve played a long time, had a great career. You’ve done much better than folks thought you would coming into the league.

    Be cautious with your head and health Wes.

  14. Just a note to the lame posters and sports analysts who like to blame Manning for this latest injury. When a QB throws a ball high into coverage like most of Favre’s throws and lays out his WR’s then you have a legitimate reason to complain. When a QB throws to an open WR with defenders in the area in the slot that is just football. There is no way a slot receiver will not get hit like this regularly over the course of the season.

  15. Welker will always have my huge respect as a player – despite his big game drops (not solely his fault though he makes those catches 9 out of 10 times) and him turning down more money from the Patriots to play in Denver

    He’s a football player’s football player – and I suspect he had his bell ring a few dozen more times in New England than he’d divulge

    But he will never turn down the football. The NFL needs to protect Welker from himself (and maybe the Broncos if they are really going to put him back in)

  16. It’s not his fault but once you’ve had multiple concussions, you so likely to suffer more. It’s not like other body parts. If he wants a quality life after football, he should retire before it is too late!

  17. “Austin Collie -the Redux.”

    Not worth it Wes; you’ve got a lot of years ahead of you to think about.

  18. bronco1st says: Sep 1, 2014 12:07 PM

    Some athletes handle concussions better than others. As an example, look at boxers – talk about repeated blows to the head. Some of those guys wind up “punch drunk’ and others are unaffected. Let the doctors do what they are paid for – make the decisions.

    ********
    No, other fighters/ boxers protect themselves better, nobody “handles concussions better than the other guy”, all brains act and react the same way; there is no toughness gauge for the human brain, it’s either functioning at 100% or it’s not and when it isn’t it’s a heart breaking experience.
    Tell Fox to find Manning another slot guy and let this guy walk away with SOME memories of his playing career.

  19. Absolutely incredible how many doctors and coaches are on this site. I sincerely hope that Wes Welker stays healthy and does not get hurt again. That being said, he is an adult and this is how he makes his money. He knows this, his family knows this and so do the Broncos. Everyone out on that field is there to do a job, Manning included and to suggest that he is doing this to Welker on purpose is so far out it is insane. Everyone needs to step back and just see what happens. He may get another concussion or he may not. One thing is for sure, the Refs will be watching every hit on this player so teams beware.

  20. To continue playing Welker and others who have had multiple concussions should sign waivers absolving the NFL of responsibility for any brain related health issues later in life

  21. fbjunkiedc says: Sep 1, 2014 12:19 PM

    The NFL players association should not be able to make that call for any player. Only the player who suffer’s the concussion/ injury can make the call to end their career. No man has the right to say when it’s time to call it quits for someone else. Just make them not eligible for any concussion lawsuit’s knowing that was the risk they were taking.

    ********

    Wrong!
    If you can’t fulfill your job duties, your employer, your union rep and yes even your doctor can and WILL issue you a ‘not safe for work’ letter or ‘restricted duties’ for light duty; and since there’s no light duty in the NFL, his doctor or the team’s doctors and yes the player’s association’s doctors need to step in before this guy winds up on Real Sports as a “what happened and why didn’t the league stop it” story!
    SOMEBODY has to look out for this guy’s future!
    Ask yourself this; when was the last time you saw a Welker interview?
    Because they don’t want the guy hit with too many questions that’ll confuse him!

  22. It’s nuts to think Welker, or any player, will receive protective or special treatment simply because of his long concussion history.

    It is Welker who needs to “beware”, of stepping foot on the field again. No referee can prevent a concussion by throwing flags after a hit happens?

    Or as in the line from that other network says: C’mon man!

    ———————————————————-

    animalkindness says: Sep 1, 2014 1:10 PM

    One thing is for sure, the Refs will be watching every hit on this player so teams beware.

  23. Regardless of what he does I hope that when he walks away from the game he does so with his brain intact. He’s been a great player and it would be a shame for him to be remembered due to brain damage.

  24. dalcow4 says: Sep 1, 2014 12:29 PM

    And come back to what– Manning calling plays which send you over the middle to get you hammered again?

    Hey Wes– ever notice that Manning always quickly throws to avoid hits when a pass rusher is coming but routinely sends you on routes which get you destroyed?

    This is what wives are for. Sitting you down and patiently explaining that It Is Over. You have had a good playing career, have made tons of money, you have a great life.

    It’s time for the next phase.

    Right, because Welker is the ONLY slot receiver that runs crossing routes and Manning is the ONLY qb to throw them. Hey dalcow, ever notice that when you type you come off as a ‘tard?

  25. The amateur Neurologist recommendations from the peanut gallery here aside, do what’s best for you Wes. We Bronco fans appreciate your contribution, but there will be a long life (hopefully) after the NFL.

  26. I’m hopeful there’s good weather tomorrow. I’d hope Wes does not become a vegetable because Wes chose to throw his health, and caution to the wind in pursuit of a game.

    ***********************

    godenbroncos says: Sep 1, 2014 1:33 PM

    The amateur Neurologist recommendations from the peanut gallery here aside, do what’s best for you Wes. We Bronco fans appreciate your contribution, but there will be a long life (hopefully) after the NFL.

  27. Loved welker when he was here in N.E & still do but there comes a time when you have to use your head (no pun intended) 3 in 9 or 10 months come on wes we all know its the hardest thing you will ever do but the best decision you could ever make is to hang em up..

    I mean just the hit Browner gave you alone is enough to hand em up.. wish you all the best.

  28. This is truly sad. It’s tough as a competitor to admit when it’s time to hang em’ up. But you expect the organization and friends such as Peyton Manning, to put the health of this guy first, above winning. Three concussions in one year. 15 days later exposing that brain to potential damage again. Look at what has happened to ex players with a history of concussions. Come on Denver. Peyton. Do the right thing.

  29. The idea of your body beginning to fail you is one that’s pretty foreign to NFL players.

    Wes body is starting to fail him in the worst possible way, his brain is no longer safe from hits.

    Wes, I loved you with the Patriots, you’re a great story, but let’s keep you around and healthy for another 40 years. We don’t need you forgetting your name and not being able to spell CAT.

  30. Welcome to the lineup Cody Latimer. At this point, Wes Welker can’t be counted on. Cody Latimer will end up as the slot receiver by mid season and it will be quite a show. He has an identical body to Thomas and is what Manning needs in the slot.

  31. How many concussions already? Don’t be selfish Wes, think about your wife and kids who’ll have to take care of you down the road and the strain on the relationships. You made a ton of cash and I’m sure your family is set for generations to come.

  32. Megahead will sacrifice anything and anyone to pad his stats…not the first time this has happened, Austin Collie comes to mind. That said, I really like Wes, love watching him play, he’s a trooper and a competitor…but it’s up to him whether he can or should continue playing or not. I have a feeling he will continue unless the doctors don’t allow it. I have seen him in interviews, and he’s already talking with a hesitation, and with that stare like something is wrong. But he’s a grown man, has to decide for himself.

  33. Lets face it, without Wes the Broncos will be easier to defend. On the surface, with all the concussions the man has had this screams desperation. One would hope that Denver and the doctors involved would take a Cautionary stance.

  34. Dear Wes, there are three guys you should probably contact. They are Jim Brown, Robert Smith, and Barry Sanders. They all got out while the getting was good, preserving their bodies to enjoy their lives after football.

    Remember when Belichek said he’d “rather trade someone a year too early than a year too late?” Well, as a former Patriot, perhaps you should take your cue from him and retire a year too early as opposed to retiring a year too late.

  35. I’m sorry but a player coming off of a 10 TD season is not going to retire… whether it’s the smart decision or not.

  36. One of the toughest players I have ever watched play the game. Of course, he wants to play but his agent, his coach, or the NFL should hold him out.

  37. The Chargers brought Welker into the league as an UDFA, then cut him. The Dolphins gave him a shot, and he made the most of it. Patriots traded for him and made him a super star, then effectively cut him. The Broncos picked him up and revived his image.

    As a Chargers fan, I have deep regrets that we didn’t keep him, further resentments that he went on to play for my two most-hated teams (sorry Raiders, you’re not good enough to be on that list), but I’ve always respected him as a player and a person.

    This advice doesn’t stem from the fear of playing you 2-3 times a year, but rather that I’m concerned about you.

    Hang ’em up, Wes, you took the league by storm, set tons of records and got some rings. Time to think of your future.

    Best wishes.

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