Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers believes he’s getting a “hungry” veteran who isn’t lacking experience at the NFL level in new wide receiver Devin Funchess, who signed a one-year deal to join the Packers this offseason.
Funchess, who caught 161 passes and scored 21 touchdowns over four seasons with the Carolina Panthers, played in just one game with the Indianapolis Colts before suffering a season-ending injury last year. His market in free agency was predictably cold, and he eventually had to settle for a one-year deal loaded with incentives.
Rodgers likes the combination of experience and motivation Funchess is bringing to the table.
“Adding Devin, who is a veteran guy who has made plays in the league for a number of years. And he’s hungry coming in,” Rodgers said during a conference call with reporters last month.
A second-round pick of the Panthers in 2015, Funchess never elevated to star status but did create several productive seasons. He caught a career-high eight touchdown passes in 2017 and had at least four touchdown catches during all four of his seasons in Carolina.
The Colts believed Funchess was about to have a big season as the sidekick to Pro Bowler T.Y. Hilton in the passing game when he broke his collarbone in Week 1 and missed the rest of the year.
Thanks to the coronavirus pandemic, Rodgers and Funchess haven’t met on the field during the offseason. But the quarterback and receiver have had encouraging conversations during virtual meetings.
“It’ll be fun to see where he’s at physically,” Rodgers said. “From his football IQ, we’ve had some really good conversations, him and I.”
Funchess is joining of a group of mostly inexperienced and unproven receivers behind Davante Adams. He’ll battle Allen Lazard, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Equanimeous St. Brown, Jake Kumerow and several others for snaps and targets.
Coach Matt LaFleur already expressed his excitement about the opportunity to work with Funchess, noting his combination of size, physicality and experience at the receiver position.
“You add a guy like Devin Funchess, who I can’t wait to start to work with, because here’s a big, physical receiver that’s extremely talented and a good veteran presence,” LaFleur said.
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