Robert Tonyan has taken full advantage of his opportunity as the Green Bay Packers starting tight end this season, posting some impressive numbers.
Could being selected as an NFC Pro Bowler be next in Tonyan’s breakout season?
Currently, Detroit tight end T.J. Hockenson leads the NFC voting at tight end, but Tonyan, a 2012 McHenry East graduate, has numbers close to Hockenson’s, and is tied with Tennessee’s Jonnu Smith, Atlanta’s Calvin Ridley and Kansas City’s Travis Kelce for 10th in the league with seven touchdown receptions.
The NFC’s top two tight ends over the last several seasons, San Francisco’s George Kittle and Philadelphia’s Zach Ertz, have missed considerable time with injuries. Kittle has 37 receptions with two touchdowns, Ertz has 24 catches with one score.
Tonyan’s 37 receptions and his big TD numbers might be enough to earn him one of the two tight end spots on the NFC team. He was 10th among tight ends receiving votes with almost two weeks remaining in voting, but that was for AFC and NFC players.
While Tonyan, an undrafted free agent, is not as well known as many other tight ends around the league, Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers appreciates what he brings to the offense. Tonyan’s catch rate (88.1%), target separation (2.75 yards) and passer rating when targeted (151.7) all rank first among NFL tight ends.
Fans can vote for the Pro Bowl at NFL.com/ProBowlVote until Dec. 18. Roster selections are determined by consensus votes of fans, players and coaches, with each group counting one-third toward determining the 88 players. Players and coaches will vote on Dec. 18.
The Packers recently tweeted a picture of Tonyan urging fans to vote for their tight end.
The Pro Bowl was supposed to be played at Las Vegas’ Allegiant Stadium on Jan. 31, but will be a virtual game this season because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Players will compete in EA Sports Madden NFL ’21 this year, but they still will receive bonuses for being selected.
The bonuses were slated as $80,000 per man for the winning team and $40,000 for the losing team. That would be a significant chunk for Tonyan, who is making $750,000 this season, his second on a two-year $1.32 million deal. He will be a restricted free agent in the offseason.
Tonyan and the Packers also should be looking at substantial bonuses for the NFC playoffs, where they will be one of the NFC favorites.
Tonyan (6-foot-5, 237 pounds) played quarterback at McHenry and was recruited as a quarterback at NCAA Division I Indiana State. His athletic ability allowed the Sycamores to move him to wide receiver and he finished second on the Indiana State career receptions list (150) and first in receiving touchdowns (20).
Tonyan signed with Detroit out of college in 2017 as a tight end and made the Lions’ practice squad. He later was cut and picked up by Green Bay, where he became a special teams contributor. This season he moved into the role as starting tight end.
In the NFC, Hockenson (45 receptions), the New York Giants’ Evan Engram (44) and the Bears’ Jimmy Graham (38) have more catches than Tonyan, while Kittle is even. Hockenson and Graham each have five touchdowns, Kittle, with whom Tonyan works out with in the offseason, has two and Engram has one.
Tonyan’s three-touchdown game against Atlanta on Monday Night Football helped gain him recognition. Also, consider that Kelce has 74 receptions for his seven touchdowns, while Tonyan has half that total. Kelce and Las Vegas tight end Darren Waller (64 receptions, five TDs) lead AFC tight ends, but Tonyan’s numbers stack up nicely with most other tight ends.
The Pro Bowl is scheduled on the bye week between the conference championships and Super Bowl LV on Feb. 7 in Tampa. In the past, those playing the Super Bowl pass on the Pro Bowl. This season, as a virtual Pro Bowl, the Super Bowl participants might be able to “play” in the Pro Bowl as well.
Maybe Tonyan can test his Madden skills one week and try to help the Packers win their fifth Super Bowl title the next week.