Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Devin Funchess has missed the majority of the season after suffering a collarbone injury in Week 1 and is still trying to work his way back.
Though Funchess is eligible to return Sunday against the Jacksonville Jaguars, he isn’t expected to do so. In fact, Funchess is still waiting on his collarbone to heal in order to take the next step in getting back on the field.
“I have to talk to the trainers. My bone still has to heal,” Funchess told reporters Thursday. “So I’m not trying to go back out there and try to rebreak it because we have a nice little stretch coming up.”
Funchess broke his collarbone in the Week 1 opener against the Los Angeles Chargers. After jumping for a pass in the end zone during the fourth quarter, the 25-year-old came down hard on his shoulder. He was quickly moved to the injured reserve list.
As he works his way back into the fold, Funchess has been doing all he can to help his fellow receivers in any way.
“I’ve been trying since I got hurt and it’s not a good process. You can’t control a bone. It is healing when it wants to heal,” Funchess said. “Just seeing them, I just try to coach them up and try to let them know little small things out there – what the DBs are going to do and all that stuff. All I can do is give them my knowledge.”
Funchess did return to practice in a limited fashion this week but because he hasn’t been activated, there won’t be any sign of him on the injury report.
The Colts are currently without three of their top wide receivers due to injury, which means they need Funchess to return quickly. But he can only recover as fast as the bone will let him, and it remains to be seen how far along he is.