The Indianapolis Colts were forced to place wide receiver Devin Funchess on the injured reserve list due to a broken clavicle, which leaves a big role up for grabs in the room.
While the Colts are expected to spread the reps out across a few players, second-year wide receiver Deon Cain is ready to fill in that spot opposite T.Y. Hilton.
“I mean I am capable of doing it all. It doesn’t really matter,” Cain told reporters Wednesday. “I am here just to make plays so anything you need me to do I am able to do it.”
Funchess was the clear WR2 behind Hilton. Now, that spot is up for grabs in the Colts offense. The Colts feel Cain can physically handle that type of role, which comes off of a strong showing in training camp and the preseason.
Head coach Frank Reich believes Cain is further ahead physically than the team expected him to be at this point.
“Yeah, I’ve seen it really since training camp. Really from day one,” Reich said Friday. “I think he’s really physically ahead of pace of where we even thought when he got into training camp. From day one, I thought he was ahead of pace, making plays right away. So, he’ll have an increased role, but it’s not going to all fall on him. We’re going to spread it out amongst the guys.”
The Colts are also likely to increase the chances of tight end Eric Ebron—especially in the red zone.
How much work Cain will get with Jacoby Brissett under center remains to be seen, but the 23-year-old can begin making a bigger impact when the Colts travel Sunday to take on the Tennessee Titans.
