Packers Lose Sure-Handed Tonyan to Bears

Coming off a torn ACL, Robert Tonyan caught a career-high 53 passes for the Packers in 2022.

Author:
Bill Huber
Publish date:
Mar 16, 2023 8:04 PM EDT

In this story:

GREEN BAY, Wis. – Former Green Bay Packers tight Robert Tonyan isn’t joining his good friends Aaron Rodgers, Allen Lazard and Nathaniel Hackett with the New York Jets. He is joining Luke Getsy and Equanimeous St. Brown with the Chicago Bears.

Tonyan, a native of McHenry, Ill., agreed to a one-year contract with the Bears on Thursday evening, a source said in confirming the original report from ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter. The financials were not disclosed.

Coming off a career-high 53 receptions, that the Packers let Tonyan go isn’t a surprise. At last year’s trade deadline, they made a play to get Darren Waller away from the Las Vegas Raiders. With a new quarterback, the Packers appear inclined to build a new set of pass-catchers.

Considering he was coming off a torn ACL, Tonyan had a strong season. With 8.9 yards per catch, 20 first downs and two touchdowns, no, Tonyan wasn’t the difference-maker that he was in 2020, when he averaged 11.3 yards per reception, gained 33 first downs and scored 11 touchdowns.

But he was as reliable as ever. In 2020, when he caught 52 passes, Tonyan was No. 1 in catch percentage (89.7), drop percentage (0.0) and passer rating (148.3) among tight ends with 40-plus targets, according to PFF. In 2022, he was No. 1 in catch percentage (84.1) and No. 2 in drop percentage (one; 1.9 percent).

If there was a best-hands-in-the-NFL competition, Tonyan might win it. What he wouldn’t win was a footrace, at least against some of the best pass-catching tight ends in the league. A deep draft class could provide a more explosive tight end.

In 2020, Tonyan caught 9-of-11 passes with three touchdowns on passes 10 to 19 yards downfield and 6-of-9 passes with four touchdowns on passes 20-plus yards downfield. That’s a combined 15-of-20. In 2022, he caught 5-of-9 passes with zero touchdowns on throws 10 to 19 yards downfield and 2-of-5 passes with two touchdowns on throws 20-plus yards downfield. That’s a combined 7-of-14.

Presumably, he’ll be more explosive in 2023, when memories of the ACL drift off into the sunset. That’s typical of that injury. He barely practiced during training camp but was on the field for Week 1.

“My goal was to kind of play all the games, and that’s what I did,” Tonyan said at the end of the season. “I’m happy I was able to be out there fighting with the team for all 17 games, but wish it was more for sure.”

Tonyan, who opened his college career as a quarterback at Indiana State, worked himself into a legitimate NFL player during his five seasons with the Packers. He caught 137 passes and scored 17 touchdowns.

The only tight ends who are under contract and have played an NFL game are Tyler Davis, who re-signed this week, and former third-round pick Josiah Deguara, who is more fullback than traditional tight end.

Tonyan was the third free-agent loss of the offseason for Green Bay, with Lazard going to the Jets and defensive tackle Jarran Reed going back to the Seahawks.

More losses are to follow, perhaps including veteran tight end Marcedes Lewis. Lewis wants to play in 2023 – his 18th season would set an NFL record for most by a tight end. He’d be interested in joining Rodgers with the Jets if that opportunity comes up.

“We were just talking about it: I’ve played the longest next to him that he has with any tight end, five years,” Tonyan said. “That’s like five years of coming in here every day, watching his process, talking about it, sitting on the plane together, talking. Just those real conversations. Just knowing he’s going to have my back for life and vice versa. That relationship isn’t going to stop beyond these walls. I could go on for hours about Cedes.”