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The Indianapolis Colts will sign a one-year contract with Devin Funchess, former receiver of Carolina Panthers, for $ 13 million, sources told Chris Mortensen of ESPN.
Funchess, 24, entered the 2018 season as Carolina's No. 1 receiver against Torrey Smith. Funchess seemed safe in that role until a 20-19 loss on Nov. 18 against the Lions in his hometown of Detroit, where he got five assists.
This and a recurring problem have seen Funchess's role fall dramatically in the last six games. Due to the back injury, he escaped the Seattle Seahawks and had just three catches for 33 yards in the next four games. He was a healthy scratch for the season finale to the New Orleans Saints; Panthers coach Ron Rivera said it was "just a decision I took" to better see Mose Frazier.
Top DJ DJ Moore scored Funchess' playing time and became the No. 1 receiver, while Carolina had a younger, faster formation including Moore and the 2017 second round pick, Curtis Samuel .
The Panthers had high expectations for Funchess when the then general manager, Dave Gettleman, had chosen the Michigan star in the second round (41st overall) of the 2015 draft. Funchess, 6-foot-4 inches and 230 pounds, had to play against Kelvin Benjamin, 6 feet 5 inches, and give the quarterback Cam Newton two big targets.
Funchess was forced to be the big receiver of Newton at the 2015 Super Bowl, when Benjamin suffered a tear in the ACL during the last training camp.
The Panthers swapped Benjamin for the Buffalo Bills in the middle of the 2017 season and handed Funchess the No. 1 receiver, who has recorded 63 of his best career catches this season.
The philosophy of current Panthers general manager Marty Hurney, based more on fast receivers capable of stretching the field, contrasted with that of Gettleman. Funchess also does not seem to be fully integrated into the program of offensive coordinator Norv Turner, who succeeded last season.
David Newton of ESPN contributed to this report.
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