Green Bay Packers get Needed TE Help Re-Signing Robert Tonyan
By Paul Bretl
One of the bigger positions of need on the offseason to-do list for the Green Bay Packers was addressing tight end—specifically finding a pass-catching threat.
Heading into Saturday, the tight end room consisted of Josiah Deguara, Marcedes Lewis, Dominique Dafney, and Tyler Davis. All can be capable in the passing game, but not necessarily dynamic, and their strengths center around blocking.
However, a familiar face will be returning and providing a boost at the position as well as in the passing game. According to Tom Silverstein, the Green Bay Packers have re-signed Robert Tonyan to a one-year deal.
At this time we do not know the details of the one-year deal, other than that a voided year was added on to help lower Tonyan’s 2022 cap hit, as Silverstein would report.
After an incredibly efficient 2020 season where Tonyan would catch 52 of his 59 targets for 586 yards and 11 touchdowns, 2021 began a bit more slowly from a statistical standpoint—although, in part, that was due to Tonyan playing a larger role as a blocker to help out the offensive line.
"“If you look at Bobby right now, you could say he’s having a slow start statistically,” said former TE coach Justin Outten last season via Packers.com. “The other aspects of his game have really improved, and that’s what fires me up about his situation because in those aspects, when he is improving in those worlds, he’s helping us with the most important stat, which is a win. He is a major piston in our engine, and he brings everything to light.“The responsibility he has on his plate, whether it’s a chip or a run block or he’s going out in a route, he takes pride in it. I’m just proud of his process and sticking with everything that’s asked of him. I’m just excited to see the whole picture coming into play here. One-trick ponies in this league – if you’re a pass-catcher and that’s all you do – it doesn’t really survive in this system. You gotta have the grit and the grit and the smarts and toughness and resilience and you gotta also have the right mindset.”"
But just before suffering the season-ending injury, Tonyan was starting to come on, logging 63 yards against Washington and 49 against Arizona with a touchdown.
It was clear that without Tonyan’s presence down the seam, over the middle, or in the red zone, this Green Bay Packers offense wasn’t firing on all cylinders.
As I’ve said before, it’s not a coincidence that the Green Bay offense was playing some of their best football later in the season when they were getting more consistent tight end production from the tight end position in the passing game.
While everyone’s timeline to return from an ACL injury is different, Bill Huber of SI recently reported that Tonyan is expected to be ready to return by Week 1 of the regular season, and possibly even training camp, providing this offense with a welcomed boost—especially with the current uncertainty at the receiver position.