Jake Funk has once again battled his way onto an NFL roster. The former Maryland Terrapins running back got signed to the Indianapolis Colts active 53-man roster on Tuesday. The Colts placed running back Evan Hull on injured reserve.
Funk, a seventh-round draft pick in 2021, impressed throughout training camp and preseason. However, the Colts waived Funk during roster cutdown day before signing him to the team’s practice squad.
Funk was elevated from the practice squad for the Colts’ Week 1 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars. He split time at running back and on special teams. He played six snaps on special teams and 13 on offense. Funk even got two rushing attempts for ten yards.
The Colts rushing attack took a hit with the saga with star running back Jonathan Taylor. Taylor is seeking to be traded but is on the physically-unable-to-perform list, which mandates he miss the four games to start the season.
In the meantime, Indianapolis is relying on a running back by committee. Deon Jackson led with 13 carries against the Jaguars for a pedestrian 14 yards. Jackson also lost two fumbles. Rookie quarterback Anthony Richardson had ten carries for a team-high 40 yards and a touchdown.
With Zach Moss still recovering from his broken arm during training camp, Funk could be in line to get an increase in offensive touches. Funk will get an opportunity to alleviate pressure off Richardson.
Jake Funk endured a long road to the NFL
It’s been a long time coming for Funk. In college at Maryland, he tore his ACL twice.
The two injuries forced him to play with the Terps for five seasons. He was limited to six games through the 2018 and 2019 seasons. He had his best collegiate season in 2020. Funk rushed for 516 yards and three touchdowns through four games. He averaged 8.6 yards per carry, but the season was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Despite having another year of eligibility, Funk entered the NFL Draft. The Los Angeles Rams selected him in the seventh round. Pundits projected him to be a special teams player. Funk is a straight-line runner. He posted a 4.49 40-yard dash during his Pro Day.
He was part of the Rams’ Super Bowl-winning team. However, Funk was inactive for the Rams’ Super Bowl LVI win over the Cincinnati Bengals.
The Rams released him last season. After a short stint with the New Orleans Saints, Funk landed with the Colts. He’s been a primary special teams player throughout his NFL career. Now he has a second chance to make a mark while on a 53-man roster.
