Wes

Welker

Welker has two seasons as an offensive assistant with the Texans as well as three as 49ers WR coach. He’ll reconvene with Mike McDaniel in Miami, where he started off his playing career. We’ll see if he gets traded for a second-round pick this time around.

Tim Dwight or Eric Parker is expected to replace Welker.

We knew Welker was headed to San Francisco, but we did not know the position. It’s a promotion for Welker after he spent two years as an offensive assistant in Houston. Welker turns 38 in May. His 903 receptions are 22nd in NFL history, but for some reason it has been Julian Edelman generating Hall-of-Fame chatter instead.

Welker has been removed from the Texans’ website. He interviewed with the Niners and Packers this offseason. His role with the 49ers is not yet known.

Although he wasn’t able to tie any NFL records this afternoon, Welker’s 11 targets led the Patriots for the second consecutive game. All the way back from his torn ACL, Welker appears to still be in his prime at age 30.

Welker saw a whopping 20 targets, leading the team by 11. He toasted rookie Aaron Williams for four catches, 67 yards and a score on the first drive, and gave the Bills’ secondary fits the rest of the way. His final catch was the most clutch of the afternoon, just crossing the stripe to tie the game at 31 on a fourth-down play. The Pats defense gave the game away on the ensuing drive. With 31 catches for 457 yards and four TDs, Welker is an elite WR1 fantasy receiver heading into next week’s game at Oakland.

Breer reports the Jets will instead mix coverages, with the goal being to create “disruption.” Sitting at 40 catches and 616 yards through New England’s first four games, Welker could set NFL records for the most receptions and yards through five games if he’s able to haul in eight passes for 89 yards this afternoon. Don’t think Revis doesn’t know that.

Tom Brady steered clear of Revis Island, completing just one pass to Welker for four yards against the shutdown corner. Welker did break free for a 73-yard catch after Revis released him to a safety. That play gave Welker five gains of 30+ yards this season compared to just one all of last year. Fantasy’s No. 1 receiver is averaging an absurd 9/148/1 line heading into Week 6 against the Cowboys.

Welker has yet to sign his franchise tender, but hasn’t publicly hinted that he’s considering skipping OTAs. It would be surprising if the sides don’t reach a long-term accord by the July 16 deadline.

LaCanfora seconds a report from CSN New England’s Tom Curran that Welker and the Pats have made little progress on a long-term deal. Welker won’t be in attendance for OTAs beginning next week, and perhaps for the remainder of the offseason. We wouldn’t expect him to hold out of training camp, however, as it’s hard to pass up $9.5 million.