Packers Sign Proven Special-Teams Standout

Along with making official the waiver-wire acquisitions of tight end Ben Sims and safety Zayne Anderson and the re-signing of long snapper Matt Orzech, the Green Bay Packers signed linebacker Kristian Welch to round out their practice squad.

Tariq Carpenter made the initial 53-man roster on Tuesday but was released to help make way for Sims and Anderson. The Packers were interested in bringing him back on their practice squad, but Carpenter – seemingly never 100 percent onboard with the move from safety to linebacker – opted to take another opportunity. A source would not share the identity of that team until Carpenter signs.

With Welch, the Packers added a veteran. An undrafted free agent in 2020 out of Iowa, he spent the last three seasons with the Baltimore Ravens. He played a total of 43 games, with most of his action coming as part of one of the NFL’s best special-teams units. He played 44 snaps on defense but 891 on special teams, where he provided 16 tackles in the regular season and two more in the playoffs. In 2021, he was in on nine tackles on special teams.

Welch is a native of Iola, Wis., which is located about 65 miles from Green Bay.

“It is super-surreal,” Welch told Waupaca Now after the 2021 season. “I pinch myself every week. There is not one thing about football as a job that I don’t enjoy. This is a dream come true.”

Because of the pandemic, he was unable to show his skill and athleticism to scouts during the predraft process. So, he and his father created a workout video that included a 40-yard dash and other drills.

“I think I have the entire skill set that any NFL team would look for in an inside linebacker,” Welch said before the 2020 draft. “Range, athleticism, physicality, speed.”