Detroit Lions tight end Devin Funchess catches during drills at the Lions practice facility on July 27 in Allen Park. (AP file photo)

ALLEN PARK (AP) — Devin Funchess, hoping to play in the NFL for the first time since 2019, made the most of his opportunities in the Detroit Lions’ preseason opener.

The former Michigan star had 21 touchdown receptions for the Carolina Panthers over the first four years of his career before it was slowed by injuries and the COVID-19 pandemic.

On Friday night against the Atlanta Falcons, Funchess played in just 21 snaps on offense, but he capitalized on the playing time by catching four passes for 19 yards and a touchdown. He converted a key third-and-8 by breaking a tackle on his way to a 9-yard gain. Two plays later, he had a highlight-reel hurdle of Atlanta Falcons defensive back Tre Webb on his way to another first down.

“It was just in the moment,” Funchess said of the hurdle. “I felt like they was just shooting at my knees, so it was just like, I’m not about to get hit in the knees again.”

Funchess doesn’t just have to shake off the rust from not playing in an NFL game since the 2019 season, but he’s also undergoing a position change from wide receiver to tight end. The previous time he played tight end was in his early college days with the Wolverines back in 2013.

“He’s getting more comfortable every day,” Lions tight end coach Tanner Engstrand said. “It’s good to see him have a little bit of production, because really as you mentioned, he hadn’t had a lot of targets and maybe production in camp thus far as he’s getting accustomed to feeling it out in the box instead of spread out wide.

“It was really good to see him do that. Get down in the red zone, I mean, he can jump out of this room. And he’s tall and athletic and long, so that was awesome to see him make that play down in the red zone.”

Funchess’ value as a receiver is well known. In 2017, he caught 63 passes for 840 yards and eight touchdowns with the Panthers. But a key part in the transition to tight end is making blocking a new emphasis in his game.