Recently, reports have emerged that Patriots receiver Wes Welker would participate in training camp from Day One, and that coach Bill Belichick would apply caution, holding Welker out of some drills.

As it turns out, Belichick will be holding Welker out of all of them.

Mike Reiss of ESPNBoston.com reports that Welker will land on the Physically Unable to Perform list to open camp. Because he’s on the “active” version of the list, Welker can join practice at any time. If/when he does, however, the team will be required to count him toward the 80-man roster.

Until then, Welker can’t practice with the team, in any way. Two years ago, the Colts ran afoul of that rule by letting Peyton Manning participate in walk-through drills while still on PUP. No action was taken. (So, basically, maybe Welker can practice with the team before exiting the PUP list.)

A player can remain on the PUP list through camp and into the regular season. If on PUP to start the regular season, the player is not eligible to join the active roster through Week 6.

Welker suffered a torn ACL and MCL in the 2009 regular-season finale, against the Texans. Expectations that he would be ready for the start of camp were fueled by his unexpected participation in at least one day of offseason practices.