Wes Welker likely back for playoffs

— -- ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- Denver Broncos receiver Wes Welker is expected to be held out of the team's final two regular-season games as he recovers from two concussions in a span of four games.

Welker, who just began to do light physical activity on Thursday, will be formally ruled out of Sunday's game in Houston on Friday, according to team source.

League and team sources now believe the veteran receiver also will be held out of the regular-season finale Dec. 29 in Oakland.

The Broncos' hope is Welker, who left games in Week 11 and Week 14 with concussions, will recover to play in the team's postseason games, especially if the Broncos earn a bye during the wild-card weekend. Welker continues to be evaluated by both the team's medical staff and an independent doctors as part of the league's concussion protocol.

The Broncos haven't made a final determination on Welker's status for the regular-season finale as team officials continue to monitor the doctors' reports, but league sources say he likely will be shelved until the playoffs.

A third concussion for Welker in such a short span would likely end his season, and one source also stated that Welker's well-being is "still the highest priority."

Welker has not been medically cleared to practice, but Thursday he spent some time working with the Broncos' strength and conditioning staff in the team's weight room. 

Broncos coach John Fox said Welker had also done some limited on-field work outside as well.

"The exercise is picking up,'' Fox said after Thursday's practice. "They're doing more and more with him in the weight room, running around out here a little bit and ... he's doing better every day.''

Welker has not practiced since leaving the Broncos' Dec. 8 victory over the Tennessee Titans shortly before halftime. Welker was taken from the field after being hit by Titans safety George Wilson and suffered a concussion as well as a neck injury on the play. The concussion was the second in a four-game span for Welker after he suffered one on a hit Nov. 17 against the Kansas City Chiefs.

Welker returned to the Chiefs game after being checked for concussion symptoms but left for good after four more plays. Welker played the next week against the New England Patriots.

The Broncos are poised to earn a first-round bye and home-field advantage throughout AFC playoffs with wins over the Texans and Raiders to close out the regular season. There are scenarios in which they can gain the same advantages if they beat the Texans on Sunday combined with losses by the Chiefs (vs. Indianapolis) and the Patriots (at Baltimore).

Broncos offensive coordinator Adam Gase was asked Thursday if he had concerns about the offense's ability to continue on its current pace, especially on third down, without Welker in the lineup.

t with the group we have," Gase said. "With ( Andre) Caldwell, ( Jacob) Tamme, ( Eric) Decker being able to move around -- we've got a really good group of guys to fill in. Wes is a really good player and he's a hard guy to replace. But we've got a good group of guys that can fill in and make sure that we can put guys in position to make conversions.''

In last Thursday's loss to the San Diego Chargers, the Broncos were 0 for 6 on third down in the first half with Welker a game-day inactive. The 20 points the Broncos scored in the 27-20 loss were also a season low.