National Football League

Detroit Lions sign Devin Funchess, who hasn't played since 2019

Published Jun. 15, 2022 5:43 p.m. ET

The Detroit Lions are giving Devin Funchess a chance to make a comeback in the NFL.

Detroit signed him as a tight end on Tuesday to add depth to a position group led by T.J. Hockenson for second-year coach Dan Campbell.

Funchess, who is from Farmington Hills, Michigan, has not played in the league since 2019.

Carolina drafted him as a receiver out of Michigan in the second round of the 2015 draft, and he had 21 touchdown receptions over four seasons with the Panthers.

He joined the Indianapolis Colts in 2019, fractured his collarbone in the opening week of that season and didn’t play again the rest of the season. He signed with Green Bay in 2020, opted out of that season and cited how the pandemic had impacted his family.

The Packers put him on injured reserve before the 2021 season started after he had a hamstring injury during a joint preseason practice with the New York Jets.

Funchess has hauled 164 passes for 2,265 yards throughout his career. He had 840 yards on 63 catches, along with eight TDs in his best season with Carolina in 2017. He's recorded at least one TD in 19 of his 62 career games.

Reporting by the Associated Press.