Texas Tech University Athletics
Welker Named AFC Special Teams Player of the Week
October 13, 2004 | Football
Oct. 13, 2004
LUBBOCK, Texas - Miami Dolphins return specialist Wes Welker was named the AFC Special Teams Player of the Week for games of October 10-11, it was announced today by the National Football League.
In last Sunday's 24-10 loss to the Patriots in New England, Welker was called into handling last-minute kicking chores after Olindo Mare aggravated a calf injury during pre-game warm-ups. He went on to convert his only PAT, his lone field goal (29 yards) while also kicking off three times. The Patriots' average drive start following those three kickoffs was their own 31. He also continued his regular duties as the team's return specialist, returning five kickoffs for a 20.2-yard average and five punts for an 8.2-yard average.
In the process last week, Welker became the first NFL player in the Super Bowl era (1966 season) to kick off, return both a kickoff and a punt, kick a field goal and have a successful PAT all in the same game. He also is the first non-kicker in Dolphins history to have either a field goal or PAT.
Welker is an undrafted rookie free agent out of Texas Tech who began the season with San Diego before signing with Miami on September 21. He is the first Dolphin to earn AFC Special Teams Player of the Week accolades since week 12 of the 2001 season when punter Matt Turk was honored for his performance in a game against Denver on December 2.
