WR Stedman Bailey suspended; Rams sign veteran Wes Welker

By Michael Condon | Nov 9, 2015

The St. Louis Rams followed up their Week 9 loss to the Minnesota Vikings with another loss. This time it was a personnel loss in the form of wide receiver Stedman Bailey. Bailey was cited for violating the league’s substance abuse policy. The third-year player will sit for the Rams next four games, following up the suspension running back Trey Watts received for the same infraction.

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Both Bailey and Watts will be listed on the team’s injured/reserved list. Watts will be their indefinitely, while Bailey will be eligible to return in December in time for the rematch with the Arizona Cardinals.

Bailey has now been served his second suspension from the league in as many seasons. Prior to the 2014 season, Bailey served a four-game suspension for violating the league’s policy on performance enhancing substances. That suspension was eventually reduced to two games. It’s unlikely Bailey receives the same leniency here.

Sep 20, 2015; Landover, MD, USA; St. Louis Rams wide receiver Stedman Bailey (12) stands on the field during warm ups prior to the Rams

Bailey has been more of a special teams contributor than anything else in 2015. His receiving stats leave much to be desired. Through eight games, Bailey has accrued 12 catches for 182-yards and one touchdown.

In the aftermath, St. Louis signed one of the leagues few remaining veteran wide receivers, Wes Welker. Welker has not played since the end of the 2014 season when he finished with the Denver Broncos. It’s as recently as two years ago that Welker hauled in 73 passes and 10 touchdowns from Peyton Manning. Welker has 890 career receptions for 9,822 yards and 50 touchdowns.

Welker struggled to catch on with teams after the completion of the 2014 season. Mainly for two reasons, his age and his health. Welker is now 34-years-old and has a history of concussions with both the New England Patriots and Broncos. However, a spring workout with the New York Giants left a good impression with the team and reports of a healthy and quick Welker leaked from the workouts.

With the Rams passing game now ranked in the basement of the NFL, Welker very well could provide the help the team so desperately needs. Welker is one of the most effective slot receivers to ever play the game and has carried comparisons to former St. Louis receiver Danny Amendola.