Welker 'One Of The Toughest Guys Ever'
FOXBORO (CBS) – Patriots receiver Wes Welker is taking a beating this season.
It seems like every week he is dinged up after a helmet-rattling hit, a neck-twisting tackle, or just the normal rigors of an NFL season.
Welker is on the Patriots injury report for the third straight week with a third different ailment. Two weeks ago it was his neck. Last week, his ribs. This week it's a knee injury that is keeping Welker limited in practice.
Knee injuries are something Welker does not want to talk about, not that a Patriot would say anything about an injury anyways.
"It's something we really don't talk about around here," Welker said of the injury on Friday. "I'm just getting ready for the game."
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There is no word if this is the same knee Welker tore his ACL in during the 2009 regular season finale. It was an injury Welker returned from quickly, but is just now fully recovering from. Add in all this season's bumps and bruises, one would think Welker would slow down a bit.
His NFL-leading numbers, 72 receptions and 1,006 receiving yards, say otherwise.
"I feel all right," he said. "I think everybody goes through different things through the season. You just have to manage them and get ready the best you can."
As for the thinking around the locker room, there is no question when it comes to the 5-9 receiver: he is one tough dude.
"He's one of the toughest guys ever," tight end Rob Gronkowski said of Welker. "He gets hit, he gets right back up and everything. He's tough."
"He's one of the toughest guys I've ever seen.cJust this last one (against New York), going over the middle he got popped pretty good," linebacker Rob Ninkovich said of a hit Welker took courtesy Jets corner Donald Stickland. "It's like 'come on Wes, pop on up' and he gets right back up. He's a very tough man"
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"I don't know how he does it, I'm just glad he's on our team," corner Kyle Arrington said.
So even if he is limited in practice, there is little doubt Welker will be on the field against the Chiefs and make an impact one way or another.
"I think I understand what the coaches want, what Tom wants," Wes said. "I understand when it comes to (Monday) we have to take care of our business; be there and play well."
Tune in to the Patriots-Chiefs Monday Night showdown on 98.5 The Sports Hub. Pregame coverage begins at 5 pm, and after the game tune in to the postgame show on 98.5, and Patriots Fifth Quarter on My TV38.
