Wes Welker returns to practice

Dear Wes Welker, I miss you

Oh, Wes Welker.

How I wish I were writing that you were returning to Patriots practice, but alas, you'll be dawning ugly orange this Sunday.

It'll be the former Patriots star receiver's first time in Gillette Stadium since losing the AFC Championship game to the Baltimore Ravens last year.

After some muddy-contract talks this offseason, in which both sides blamed each other for nothing getting done, Welker was no longer a Patriot and instead a Bronco.

However, the former Patriots star suffered a concussion in the Broncos' win over the Chiefs last week. His status for this week, of course, was up in the air. A shame for Welker, who is surely fired up to face his former team. Of course, Tom Brady didn't think there was any doubt he'd play. He was right.



The Broncos will probably scheme up quite a few ways to get Welker some revenge on his former team. It's hard to see the Patriots figuring out a way to stop them either, as Denver has so many other weapons to worry about.

The Broncos and Patriots have been on semi-opposite paths this season. Welker is in the type of season he'd familiar with, dominating the NFL with historically good offense. Welker helped build the record breaking 2007 Patriots team, and now he's on an offense that's on pace to shatter the records he helped set that year.

The Patriots meanwhile have struggled offensively all year, though seemed to have bounced back a bit in their last two games.

Any Brady vs Manning showdown is always a huge story, but even more so when everyone's favorite former Patriot, Welker, is returning in different colors.