FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- The New England Patriots placed two-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Wes Welker on the active physically unable to perform list Tuesday as he continues his strong recovery from knee surgery.
The Patriots made the move two days before they open training camp, and there's a chance that Welker could come off the list by then and participate in drills. If he stays on it, it could allow other receivers who are trying to make the team more opportunities in practice.
NFL.com fantasy editor Michael Fabiano says that with the start of camps comes questions about the status of key players coming back from injuries, including Wes Welker. More ... More:
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Welker had surgery in February after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee on the fourth offensive play of a 34-27 loss at Houston in the regular-season finale. He also damaged his medial collateral ligament, which didn't require surgery, on the play when he planted his left leg after making his NFL-leading 123rd catch of the season.
Welker missed the Patriots' only playoff game, a 33-14 loss at home to the Baltimore Ravens in which New England trailed 24-0 in the first quarter.
But exactly four months after undergoing surgery, Welker participated in agility drills and caught passes while wearing a brace on his knee during organized team activities June 2.
"I didn't think it'd be that big a deal," Welker said after a similar session five days later. "I've been pushing it and trying to get ready and get out there with my teammates, get a few reps and try and get better as much as we can."
The Patriots also placed linebacker Shawn Crable, a third-round draft pick in 2008, and rookie defensive lineman Kade Weston, a seventh-round pick, on the active PUP list Tuesday.
A player cannot go on that list once he practices. If a player is put on a different list -- the reserve PUP -- he must miss a minimum of the first six weeks of the regular season.
Without Welker, whose 346 receptions during the past three seasons were the most in the NFL, the Patriots used rookie Julian Edelman as a slot receiver in the playoff game. Randy Moss is New England's other starting wide receiver.
During the offseason, the Patriots signed free-agent wide receivers Torry Holt, who had 51 catches with the Jacksonville Jaguars last season, and David Patten, who played in New England from 2001 through 2004 but sat out the 2009 season after being released by the Cleveland Browns during training camp.
Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press
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