Nine weeks into the NFL season and Wes Welker still hasn’t found a new job, and he admits that he’s frustrated by the process.
The 34-year-old former Patriots receiving stalwart hasn’t been able to get back into the league since his contract with the Broncos expired, with concussions and flagging production during his final season being factors. Welker hasn’t retired, though, and he admitted that he’s found it frustrating watching the games from home this season.
“The frustrating part sometimes is you look out there on the field and you see guys who are playing, and you’re like, ‘I should be playing,'” Welker told NFL.com. “That gets me a little bit. I love being at home with my kids, but at the same time, you have that itch and you’re looking out there and seeing how you can fit in with this team or that and there’s never really a perfect plan.”
Welker wants to be selective and find the right fit. He has visited with two teams and passed two physicals, but remains unsigned. The concussions are a worry, but he has been cleared to play by a neurologist.
“I was thinking, ‘OK, after Week 1, something’s going to happen,'” Welker said. “And then nothing happened and then we got down the line and eventually it’s going to happen, but then it’s been 10-12 weeks of going super hard. But at the same time, you can’t overdo it, you want to be ready in case you get the call that week.”
“You’re watching and wish you were out there playing,” he continued. “But you’re just waiting.”
With the injury history and age, Welker’s time is probably running out if he wants the last shot he feels he should get. If he doesn’t get it, at least he’s got a great young family to tend to.
