FOXBORO (CBS) — With Aaron Hernandez out for Sunday’s game against the Ravens, one would think this is the ideal situation for the Patriots to start and use Wes Welker more in the offense.

Wes should have been more involved from the get-go — that’s everybody’s general feeling. He says that he’s ready to do whatever is asked.

“I think we all just go out there and do our job to the best of our ability, and whenever you’re called upon, you go out there and do that,” Welker said Friday. “And our job is to pick up the slack with Aaron being out. … However I can contribute to help us win, that’s my job.”

Welker also said having Deion Branch back in the group is a benefit to the entire offense.

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“I think it helps everyone,” Welker said of Branch. “Any time you have a player that can contribute like he can, I think that helps everybody out a lot.”

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