should have, by the general manager\u2019s own admission, made the roster<\/a>. And didn\u2019t.<\/p>\nWhich is why, Welch insisted in the aftermath of Saturday\u2019s 20-7 victory over the Seattle Seahawks in the preseason finale at Lambeau Field, he wasn\u2019t going to try to predict the future \u2014 or worry about it \u2014 heading into Tuesday\u2019s 3 p.m. deadline to trim the roster to the NFL-mandated 53-player limit.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think I\u2019ve done some good things. Certainly not perfect. There\u2019s always things I\u2019m trying to improve on, like anything,\u201d Welch said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m excited to get to the regular season \u2014 hopefully here.\u201d<\/p>\n
Asked if he had an inkling as to whether he\u2019ll make the team, Welch replied, \u201cNo, I can\u2019t really say even if I did. I\u2019ve been focused on what I can control and just hoping for the best.\u201d<\/p>\n
That approach seemed to work for him.<\/p>\n
Welch finished the preseason among the Packers\u2019 leaders in special-teams tackles (five) and tackles on defense (16) \u2014 along with two tackles for loss and a pass break-up.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s a veteran player that\u2019s played a lot of ball, that\u2019s contributed in a lot of ways, going back to last preseason. He did a lot of great things for us,\u201d head coach Matt LaFleur said earlier in camp. \u201cHe\u2019s certainly comfortable within our scheme, within our system, not only on defense but also on [special teams]. And he\u2019s a great team guy, great teammate, great person. So it\u2019s great to have him back in the building.\u201d<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Now he\u2019s back in the same spot, unsure of what to expect or hope for.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt would mean a lot,\u201d Welch replied when asked what it would me to make the roster after how last year played out. \u201cI worked really hard. It\u2019s a business, at the end of the day, and I\u2019ve been in it long enough to understand that part of it.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt would mean a lot. That\u2019s certainly been the goal. To achieve it would be a good feeling.\u201d<\/p>\n
That said, in his sixth NFL season, Welch knows all too well that there\u2019s nothing he can do at this point, other than wait.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a business. There\u2019s a lot of stuff out of the players\u2019 control, a lot of different variables,\u201d Welch said. \u201cI\u2019ve been in it long enough to be on the good side of it and the not-so-great side. I keep that same mindset.<\/p>\n
\u201cTuesday will come and it\u2019ll go. We\u2019ll see what happens.\u201d<\/p>\n
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