The Indianapolis Colts (6-5) are still waiting to see if wide receiver Devin Funchess will be healthy enough to return this season, but they won’t get their answer before they host the Tennessee Titans (6-5) in Week 13.
While they still have one more week before making a decision on Funchess, the Colts will be cutting it close. Head coach Frank Reich told reporters Wednesday that Funchess won’t be activated from the injured reserve list this week.
“He is not going to make it this week. Not because of anything we have learned the last couple days, but we’ll get something checked out later in the week. It’s all going fine. We’ve had no setbacks. There’s been nothing negative,” Reich said. “It’s just the reality is where we’ve got to be and what we need to see this week he won’t make it on Sunday, but hopefully sooner rather than later.”
What’s important to note is that Reich confirmed there haven’t been any setbacks, which means it’s simply taking a long time for the bone to heal.
Funchess has been on the injured reserve list since breaking his clavicle during the Week 1 matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers. He stayed on the injured reserve for eight weeks before being eligible to return to practice. The Colts then get 21 days from that point to either move him to the active roster or keep him on the injured reserve, which would effectively end his 2019 season. That decision comes on Dec. 4.
The Colts wide receiver corps has been lacking for the majority of the season with spurts of brilliance. While Funchess isn’t a game-breaking talent, his experience and skills would help the Colts offense in theory.
With Hilton getting healthier and the potential return of rookie Parris Campbell in the next two weeks or so, having Funchess activated for the deadline could bring a boost to what has been a poor passing offense.
We will have to wait and see, though, as the Colts have until the middle of next week to make their crucial decision on the impending free agent.