Welker, 25, is a veteran of three NFL seasons and has played in 47 career games with three starts for the San Diego Chargers (one game in 2004) and Miami Dolphins (2004-06). The 5-foot-9-inch, 195-pound wide receiver was the Dolphins’ leading receiver with 67 catches for 687 yards and a touchdown in 2006, and has led Miami in both punt returns and kickoff returns in each of the last three seasons. Welker has recorded 96 career receptions for 1,121 yards (11.7 avg.) and a touchdown; 127 punt returns for 1,232 yards (9.7 avg.); and 170 kickoff returns for 3,858 yards (22.7 avg.) and a touchdown. He is Miami’s all-time leading kickoff returner in terms of both yardage and total returns. Welker is tied for the Dolphins’ franchise record with 127 punt returns and ranks second in club history in punt return yardage. In addition to his contributions on offense and in the return game, Welker also took on kicking duties for the Dolphins in a game against the Patriots on Oct. 10, 2004, connecting on a field goal and an extra point while also handling kickoffs.

Last season with the Dolphins, Welker played in all 16 games with two starts and totaled a team-high 67 receptions while finishing second on the club with 687 receiving yards. Additionally, Welker paced the Dolphins with 41 punt returns for 378 yards (9.2 avg.) and also led the club with 48 kickoff returns for 1,064 yards (22.2 avg.). Welker totaled 156 touches in 2006 (67 receptions, 41 punt returns and 48 kickoff returns), a mark that led all NFL wide receivers or specialists (Dante Hall, 109). Welker recorded a career-high nine receptions against the Patriots at Gillette Stadium on Oct. 8, 2006, and his 77 receiving yards in that game marked the second highest total of his career.

Welker was originally signed by the San Diego Chargers as an undrafted free agent out of Texas Tech prior to the 2004 season. He made his NFL debut with the Chargers in the 2004 regular-season opener, but was released by San Diego on Sept. 15, 2004. He signed with Miami as a free agent on Sept. 21, 2004, and played in the final 14 games of the season for the Dolphins, handling punt return and kickoff return duties. As a rookie, his 10.8-yard punt return average (43 returns for 464 yards) ranked second in the NFL to Dennis Northcutt’s 12.0-yard average. He also averaged 23.2 yards on kickoff returns that season (61 returns for 1,415 yards).

In a game against the Patriots at Gillette Stadium on Oct. 10, 2004, a pregame injury to Dolphins kicker Olindo Mare pressed Welker into service as Miami’s kicker. He converted both of his kicking opportunities (a field goal and an extra point) to become the first player in NFL history to record a punt return, a kickoff return, a field goal, an extra point and a kickoff in the same game. Welker earned AFC Special Teams Player of the Week honors for his efforts.

After not recording a catch as a rookie, Welker emerged as a receiving threat in 2005, grabbing 29 passes for 434 yards and playing in all 16 games with one start. He once again led the Dolphins in punt returns (43 returns for 390 yards) and kickoff returns (61 returns for 1,379 yards).