Much has been said regarding the Green Bay Packers’ pass-catching talent following Davante Adams‘ departure. Rightfully so, as going from having the best wide receiver in the league to an unproven room is kind of a big deal.
The Packers are excited to see what their three rookie draft picks can do, though, and what veteran acquisition Sammy Watkins has to offer. In the past, Allen Lazard and Randall Cobb have been reliable. Can they step up in Adams’ absence?
However, the aerial yards don’t have to only come from wide receivers. Aaron Jones and A.J. Dillon, one of the league’s best running back tandems, should also play impactful roles in the passing game. And Green Bay expects tight ends Josiah Deguara and Tyler Davis to play significant parts in the passing game while Marcedes Lewis remains a stalwart.
But perhaps no player can expect a bigger role in elevating the Packers’ passing game than Robert Tonyan, who suffered a torn ACL in Week 8 of last season. Tonyan was essential in Green Bay’s laser-powered 2020 offense, and his presence would make life easier for the Packers’ young receiver corps. If Tonyan can start the season, the offense is much more frightening.
Tonyan burst onto the scene as a major player early in the Packers’ 2020 campaign, establishing himself as one of Aaron Rodgers‘ favorite targets. His hat-trick game against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 4 proved Tonyan was someone defensive coordinators must plan around.
He ended the regular season with 52 receptions for 586 yards (third on the team) and a whopping 11 touchdowns (second). Tonyan proved one of the team’s most reliable pairs of hands and didn’t drop a pass. While PFF criticized his tackle-breaking ability, they lauded his passing rating when targeted. His 148.3 rating led all qualifying tight ends that year.
Tonyan was a Pro Bowl snub that year, but Pro Bowl voting is dumb anyway. However, it was always going to be hard to replicate an 11-touchdown season, and Tonyan wasn’t quite as effective in 2021.
Drops became a concern in 2021, and Tonyan’s blocking took a step back. He was a total liability at times when blocking on kicks and punts. In the last full games he played, Tonyan was targeted 29 times and caught 18 passes for 204 yards for only two touchdowns.
The offense itself wasn’t nearly as polished on the whole, and Tonyan did appear to start turning things around. The Packers were without their top three wide receivers in a Week 8 game against the then-undefeated Arizona Cardinals, and they expected Tonyan to step up. He caught three of his four targets for 49 yards, with a long of 33 yards, but that would be his final game of the season. A physical hit led to a torn ACL.
ACLs are tricky to predict, and the recovery can go either way. Some players bounce back early without a noticeable dip in power. Others take longer to heal and face complications, as we saw last season with David Bakhtiari.
Thankfully, it seems like Tonyan is in the former camp. Back in March, Sports Illustrated‘s Bill Huber reported that Tonyan was on pace to return for the Packers’ season opener, describing Tonyan’s ACL tear as “clean.”
That timetable still seems realistic. Tonyan was in the rehab group doing spring training activities, but his progress looked good. And in late June, he participated in the annual Tight End U. The Athletic‘s David Lombardi posted a video of Tonyan running along the sideline and reiterated the expectation that Tonyan would be ready for Week 1.
Having Tonyan available right away instead of spending six weeks on the PUP list is a huge boon for Rodgers and the offense. While he only has one year of consistent, proven success, Tonyan has done enough to prove he’s a dangerous weapon. Defenses will need to account for him as the big-bodied downfield target and red-zone threat, making life easier for the receivers. He has Rodgers’ trust, something few of Green Bay’s tight ends can claim.
The Packers have some exciting prospects at tight end, and they expect Deguara and Davis to step up. But, as Rodgers says, production over potential, and Tonyan is easily the best receiving tight end on the roster. With his availability, Matt LaFleur can feel more confident playing multiple tight-end sets.
A full season is unsurprisingly great news for Tonyan, who will be a free agent in 2023. With just one year of being a difference-maker and coming off of a significant injury, Green Bay and other interested teams may be wary of giving Tonyan a lucrative, multi-year deal. Playing an entire season in an offense without a proven WR1 is Tonyan’s best chance to audition for a long-term contract.
Green Bay’s medical staff will play it safe with Tonyan’s injury, and there’s still a chance he starts the season on the PUP list. Regardless of when Tonyan returns, expectations will be high. But if he can start the season, Tonyan easily elevates this offense and its much-maligned receiving group — and becomes one of the best weapons at Rodgers’ disposal.
