So I got curious about head injuries in the NFL, especially after hearing Wes Welker’s name pop up so much when people talk about concussions. Guy seemed like he was always getting dinged up, you know? Wanted to see just how bad his history really was compared to other guys who played around the same time.
Starting With Welker Himself
First thing I did was dig into Welker’s actual injury reports. Man, it was a lot. Scoured NFL records, news archives, even some old team reports. Started listing them out:
- That brutal double hit in the 2010 Patriots game? Yep, confirmed concussion.
- Season opener 2012 against Denver? Knocked cold. Concussion.
- Almost the exact same thing against the Texans barely a month later? Yup, another one.
- Then later that same season in Seattle? Flagged again for concussion protocol after a big hit.
- Remember that preseason game with the Broncos in 2013? Hit so hard his teammates looked scared. Concussion.
- And wouldn’t you know it, regular season that year against Kansas City? Yep, back in the protocol.
Counting them up, it was at least six documented concussions just from his official NFL playing years. Felt rough just reading about them.
Looking Around the League
Okay, knew Welker’s history looked gnarly. But was he really alone in this? Needed a yardstick. Pulled up databases tracking reported NFL concussions over a similar timeframe (roughly 2004-2015). Wanted comparable positions – slot receivers, guys taking hits over the middle like Welker did. Focused on:
- How many documented concussions per player?
- Career length (longer career means more exposure).
- Number of seasons played.
- How many games missed specifically for concussion recovery.
Compared Welker’s numbers to other notable receivers and tight ends, guys like Anquan Boldin, Jason Witten, Hines Ward, and Brandon Stokley.
Putting It All Together
Sitting there staring at all these numbers – Welker’s six concussions just jumped off the page. Most other guys I looked at, even the tough ones known for playing hurt like Boldin, typically showed two or three documented concussions across their entire careers. Maybe an extra one suspected but never confirmed. Witten had a couple early on. Stokley dealt with some too.
But Welker? He had documented concussions across multiple teams (Pats, Broncos) and multiple seasons in a row. His rate per season played, and per game played, was way, way higher than the average receiver I was comparing him to during that period. He seemed to get hit in the head constantly. The data really showed just how unique – and alarming – his pattern was.
The Takeaway
This wasn’t just about counting injuries. Seeing it laid out confirmed what many suspected: Wes Welker suffered an unusually high number of concussions for an NFL player, even compared to others who played a similarly high-risk position. It wasn’t just bad luck one year; it was a persistent, recurring theme throughout his career. Makes you think hard about the wear and tear, especially on those smaller, tough-as-nails receivers playing in the middle of the field. Glad the league has stricter protocols now, but man, looking back at Welker’s history… it’s pretty staggering.
