Wide receiver Devin Funchess will not be one of the top two receivers for the Panthers this Sunday against the Jaguars, according to Charlotte Observer reporter Joe Person.
The 41st pick by the Carolina Panthers was expected to have a big role when star receiver Kelvin Benjamin tore his ACL. Instead Panthers head coach Ron Rivera is going with Ted Ginn Jr. and Corey Brown as the starters with Funchess right behind them.
Funchess had a hamstring injury this summer, and it is possible that lack of practice time hindered his chances at being number one. Ginn Jr. returning to the top of the lineup makes sense, as he had a good year in Carolina before leaving for Arizona last season. In Ginn's one season with the Panthers he had 556 receiving yards and five touchdowns. Ginn's return also brings impact to the special teams as he has seven career returned touchdowns on both kickoff and punts.
Brown is more a surprise here, as he is a second-year receiver out of Ohio State. In his first season with the Panthers he caught 21 passes and scored two touchdowns. It won't be shocking if Funchess sees more targets by the end of the season, as Funchess seems to have more upside.
Funchess is a big target at 6-foot-4 and gives quarterback Cam Newton a threat in the endzone. In three seasons at Michigan, Funchess had 15 touchdowns and 1,715 yards receiving. Funchess may be the third receiver to start the season, but he is likely to get more time and targets as the season continues.
