One of the most prolific slot receivers in NFL history has found a new home for the 2015 season. Wes Welker has signed a deal with the St. Louis Rams, the team announced on Monday.
Wes Welker signs with Rams
Wes Welker isn’t ready to call it quits yet, and has signed with the St. Louis Rams.
Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports
The Rams are looking for receiver help after losing Stedman Bailey for four games due to a substance abuse violation and subsequent suspension. St. Louis has the worst passing attack in the league, averaging just 177.1 passing yards per game even when Bailey was with the team.
St. Louis also worked out Vincent Brown and Hakeem Nicks, and earlier in the season held workouts at the position as well.
Kenny Britt is the leading receiver in St. Louis, catching 15 passes for 311 yards and a touchdown. Tavon Austin comes in second with 28 receptions for 300 yards and no other receiver have eclipsed that mark. Starting tight end Jared Cook is a valuable weapon, but he has only managed 255 yards and has not caught a touchdown pass this year.
Welker came to national prominence during the 2007 season as part of the record-setting New England Patriots offense. That year, he caught a league-best 112 passes for 1,175 yards and eight touchdowns, beginning a run of five 1,000-yard seasons in a six-year span.
However, the Patriots decided to move on from Welker after the 2012 season. The receiver landed in Denver with Peyton Manning, Demaryius Thomas and Eric Decker to form one of the most potent passing attacks in the league. The Broncos stormed through the AFC and reached the Super Bowl, where they were stomped out by the eventual champion Seattle Seahawks.
In recent years, Welker has accrued multiple concussions, suggesting that his time in the NFL may be nearing its conclusion. He played in 14 games last season and 13 games the year before, missing games due to various injuries. However, he’ll at least give it one more year with a Rams team that clearly needs help at the wide receiver position.
Welker was recently the subject of an article from Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network, in which he reveals that Welker only planned on signing with the right team in the right situation. Welker said that he was frustrated because he feels like he belongs on the field. He did say that he’s been ready to go for some time and that he’s 100 percent at this point in the season. He’s held workouts with multiple teams this offseason, though it’s unclear if the Rams are the first team to offer him a deal.
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