Green Bay, Wis. — After being left off the 53-man roster on August 26, Kristian Welch returned to the building on August 27 on a Practice Squad contract, keeping the Green & Gold on his shoulders for 2025. It’s a low-gloss but meaningful turn, coming as the Packers announced their first wave of 13 Practice Squad signings that included Welch.

"My grandfather has been a Packers fan since he was a kid. He always wanted me to dedicate myself to the Packers, not any other team. I respect the coach’s decision to not include me in the final 53-man roster, but for my grandfather, I asked for one more chance — even if it’s just the Practice Squad. The Packers gave me that opportunity, and I’m truly grateful. Because of them, I can keep my promise to my grandpa. I vow to bring relentless energy to Green Bay — in every practice, every lift, every drill, every snap — and prove I’m worthy of it every single day."

At 26, Welch is a true veteran special teamer: according to TruMedia, he has logged 1,369 special-teams snaps in his career — the most among players currently with the Packers — and has suited up for Baltimore (2020–22, 2024), Green Bay (2023) and Denver (2024). That résumé makes stashing Welch on the Practice Squad a smart “keep the football IQ” move for special teams coordinator Rich Bisaccia.

This summer, Welch flashed in the preseason: local reporting placed him among the unit’s top performers and a “worthy candidate” for a 53-man spot; ultimately, the club prioritized other roster constructions ahead of the deadline. With the league’s temporary elevation mechanism from the Practice Squad to the gameday roster, a core ST piece like Welch is always within “call-up range,” especially when Green Bay needs to bolster units during injury weeks.

Tactically, keeping Welch on the PS gives the Packers immediate flexibility: he can plug into kick/punt coverage, help in certain big-nickel, short-space tackling situations, or rotate on the return units if needed. More important is the culture: Welch brings pro habits, calm in the locker room, and the “earn every snap” mindset — traits that rarely make headlines but sustain a winning DNA through a long season.

For Welch, this isn’t just a career decision — it’s a family promise. And in Green Bay, where simple, steady stories are cherished, the vow to “bring relentless energy to Green Bay” becomes the ticket to turn a small chance into a big moment at Lambeau.