GREEN BAY — When Kristian Welch left Lambeau Field on Saturday evening, the only thing the veteran linebacker was sure of was that he wasn’t sure of anything when it came to his football future.
After all, he had an outstanding training camp last year and should have, by the general manager’s own admission, made the roster. And didn’t.
Which is why, Welch insisted in the aftermath of Saturday’s 20-7 victory over the Seattle Seahawks in the preseason finale at Lambeau Field, he wasn’t going to try to predict the future — or worry about it — heading into Tuesday’s 3 p.m. deadline to trim the roster to the NFL-mandated 53-player limit.
“I think I’ve done some good things. Certainly not perfect. There’s always things I’m trying to improve on, like anything,” Welch said.
“I’m excited to get to the regular season — hopefully here.”
Asked if he had an inkling as to whether he’ll make the team, Welch replied, “No, I can’t really say even if I did. I’ve been focused on what I can control and just hoping for the best.”
That approach seemed to work for him.
Welch finished the preseason among the Packers’ leaders in special-teams tackles (five) and tackles on defense (16) — along with two tackles for loss and a pass break-up.
“He’s a veteran player that’s played a lot of ball, that’s contributed in a lot of ways, going back to last preseason. He did a lot of great things for us,” head coach Matt LaFleur said earlier in camp. “He’s certainly comfortable within our scheme, within our system, not only on defense but also on [special teams]. And he’s a great team guy, great teammate, great person. So it’s great to have him back in the building.”
Welch was certainly more assignment-sure and reliable than Isaiah Simmons, the 2023 No. 8 overall pick who oozes potential but whose up-and-down play despite his athleticism and physical traits made one wonder if there was a reason Simmons was with his third team in four seasons.
The Iola, Wis., native joined his home state Packers in September 2023 after being released by the Baltimore Ravens and wound up playing in 14 games in green-and-gold (including playoffs). And he looked like a cinch for last year’s roster after registering 16 tackles (tied for the most on the team) and three turnovers plays (two interceptions and a fumble recovery) in the preseason.
Instead, the Packers cut him and GM Brian Gutekunst subsequently admitted that Welch deserved a roster spot. Welch wound up splitting last season between the Denver Broncos and the Ravens, both teams who played the Packers in preseason and saw how well he played.
Now he’s back in the same spot, unsure of what to expect or hope for.
“It would mean a lot,” Welch replied when asked what it would me to make the roster after how last year played out. “I worked really hard. It’s a business, at the end of the day, and I’ve been in it long enough to understand that part of it.
“It would mean a lot. That’s certainly been the goal. To achieve it would be a good feeling.”
That said, in his sixth NFL season, Welch knows all too well that there’s nothing he can do at this point, other than wait.
“It’s a business. There’s a lot of stuff out of the players’ control, a lot of different variables,” Welch said. “I’ve been in it long enough to be on the good side of it and the not-so-great side. I keep that same mindset.
“Tuesday will come and it’ll go. We’ll see what happens.”
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