Devin

Funchess

The team also announced the release of offensive tackle Kendall Lamm. After switching from receiver to tight end, Funchess was always a long-shot to make the Lions’ final roster. The 28-year-old hasn’t appeared in a regular season game since 2019. Though the position switch could earn him a spot on someone’s practice squad, Funchess’ time in the NFL is nearing an end.

A converted tight who signed with Detroit in June, Funchess can’t afford to miss much of training camp if he hopes to crack the 53-player roster this summer. At best, the massive Funchess will be the Lions’ No. 2 tight end behind T.J. Hockenson.

Yes, tight end. You read that correctly. They are moving the 6-foot-4, 225-pound Funchess inside and announced that as they made the move. Funchess has been a complete NFL non-factor since his rookie contract, reeling in just three passes since 2018. Hopefully the move to tight end can change something for him, though it wasn’t like he was an exemplary blocker earlier in his career. Funchess is likely just fighting to try to remain on the NFL radar, and doing whatever he can to make that happen.

Funchess was originally signed to a one-year, $2.5 million contract with the Packers in 2020 but will ultimately log zero snaps in Wisconsin after opting out of his first year with the team and being carted off during Green Bay’s most recent preseason game. Funchess, 27, will likely go three years between regular season snaps after having not played since Week 1 of the 2019 season.

Funchess was carted off the field during joint practices with the Jets last week and will now likely never play a snap for Green Bay after opting out of last season following his signing of a one-year deal. Funchess, now 27, hasn’t played a snap in the regular season since Week 1 of 2019 when he broke his collarbone with the Colts and missed the remainder of that year.

Funchess, who opted out of the 2020 season, signed a one-year deal worth $1.2 million in base salary last April with Green Bay after playing just one game in 2019 for the Colts before suffering a broken collar bone. The former Panthers second round pick has a long way to go before he cracks the Packers’ receiver rotation.

Funchess signed a one-year, $2.5 million contract this offseason but will instead take home the agreed to offering from the NFLPA. Funchess was expected to start in three-receiver sets in 2020 despite missing the entire 2019 season due to injury. Davante Adams remains a candidate for a 30% target share, but the real winner of Funchess’ decision to opt out is Allen Lazard, who is going undrafted in many standard-sized leagues. Funchess will be more than two-years removed from playing on an NFL field when he tries to land elsewhere in 2021.

The signing is official. The deal includes a $1 million signing bonus, $1.2 million base salary, $50,000 workout bonus and $15,625 for each game active. Finally, another $3.7 million is available in incentives, meaning Funchess can make up to $6.25 million. It’s not quite the type of money that would indicate a locked-in role. Still, all hope is not lost for Funchess (turns 26 in May) just yet. He’s flashed the type of contested-catch ability that should serve him well as Aaron Rodgers’ potential No. 2 pass-game option. 2019 was a waste due to bad injury luck, but previously Funchess played in 61-of-64 regular season games with the Panthers from 2015-2018. While most of us would’ve preferred a Robby Anderson signing here, Funchess carries a sneaky-high ceiling entering 2020.

Funchess is coming off a completely lost 2019 season thanks to a collarbone injury that required a plate insertion. The Colts never brought him off injured reserve, so he’ll likely sign a short-term “prove it” deal assuming he can pass a physical. Green Bay has been very quiet this free agency despite needing at least one or two more weapons for Aaron Rodgers. Funchess, 26, would likely compete with a rookie in Green Bay if he signs.

December 4 is the deadline to do so, though it appears Funchess will not be one of the players Indianapolis designates to return. Funchess is still feeling the effects of a broken collarbone suffered in the Colts’ opener three months ago. Doctors inserted a plate in Funchess’ collarbone after the injury, though apparently that didn’t do the trick. The 25-year-old will finish his debut season in Indy with just three catches for 32 scoreless yards on five targets.