Packers WR Devin Funchess, as well as the rest of the team (minus Aaron Rodgers), wrapped up the teams Mandatory Minicamp on Thursday.
Funchess, the 6’4 Wide Receiver who recently turned 27, opted out of the 2020 season due to health and safety concerns from Covid-19. The 5 year NFL veteran hasn’t played a full season in 3 years, since 2018, as he only played 1 game in 2019 due to injury. Funchess had success early in his career with Cam Newton and the Carolina Panthers, giving their offense a solid #2 receiver with Kelvin Benjamin. In 2017, Funchess posted career highs in receptions (63), yards (840) and touchdowns (8).
If Funchess is able to match his level of play, or elevate it from 2017, he will find a spot on the Packers roster. The tricky part is the position he currently finds himself in. Playing for the Packers, he’s on a team that has 4 WR’s virtually guaranteed roster spots for 2021 in Davante Adams, Allen Lazard, Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Amari Rodgers. That means Funchess will have to show enough to the coaches in training camp and pre-season to earn a helmet on game day. The primary competition Funchess faces is WR’s Equanimeous St. Brown, who’s been a Packer since 2018 and Malik Taylor, who was on the team last year.
It’s too early to tell if Funchess will end up on the Final 53 man roster. However, he’s already saying the right things and talking as if he will be on the 2021 Packers.
If able to return to form, Funchess will give the Packers another tall, big-bodied receiver, along with Allen Lazard that will help the offense in 2021. If not the Packers, Funchess certainly could find himself on another NFL Team and worst-case scenario, could find a career playing basketball. The man can get up.
Alex grew up in a family of Chicago Bears fans in the suburbs of Chicago but was always a Packers guy. Alex\'s AIM name when he was in elementary/middle school was PackerAlex. He now lives in Nashville, Tennessee and you can follow him on twitter at @Alex_Mayer93.
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