Why I'm betting on Robert Tonyan

I have always been a big fan of Robert Tonyan. It’s no secret.

The Packers tight end started off as a practice squad guy in 2018 and worked his way into the starting lineup in 2020, posting a tight end league-leading 11 touchdown receptions that season.

However, in a contract year in 2021, Tonyan wasn’t showing up in the stat box much during the first part of the season. He finally started to get things going before tearing his ACL on Oct. 28 at Arizona.

Nine months later, Tonyan, understandably, has yet to fully practice during the opening part of Packers training camp.

It’s not an understatement to say that this season is massive for his future in the NFL.

So it was great to hear Tonyan open up in a chat with Will Compton recorded a few weeks ago on an episode of Bussin’ With the Boys released on Wednesday morning.

For the first time during the offseason, Tonyan really opened up and let it fly on a variety of topics. It was an excellent episode that covered all things Packers, including Tonyan’s mindset last season, his recovery, his mindset for this season, the Packers in the playoffs and even Aaron Rodgers’ new tattoo.

But one thing really stuck out to me.

Tonyan and Compton spoke for the first roughly 11 minutes about the ACL injury and what that was like.

After spending some time reflecting, Tonyan had some really deep stuff to say about how he views the injury and the future.

“This is for a reason,” Tonyan said. “You got to see a lot of things happen with football, like, Davante leaving. You got to see our defensive guys get paid. It’s like, it’s just not my time yet. If I keep worrying about me, bettering myself on the field and off the field, that stuff is going to come.”

“I was getting ahead of myself a little bit,” Tonyan continued. “I did such a good job in 2020 with living in the present. I had a great season. Then you get into 2021 and maybe I was a little ahead of myself now that I look back on it. But I really believe everything truly happens for a reason.”

For me, it was really cool to hear Tonyan’s perspective on the situation. Put yourself in his shoes. It must’ve hurt so much to have a season-ending injury right when you’re starting to get targets and post numbers again. Especially in a contract year on a championship-caliber team.

But it sounds like he’s putting it behind him, buckling up and getting ready for a massive comeback season.

Which is why I’m betting on another strong season from him this fall.

“You have one of the best, if not the best, quarterbacks of all time as your quarterback,” Tonyan said. “We have a bunch of people coming back on defense, and then some. We don’t have a No. 1 receiver anymore. That’s what I want. That’s the pressure I want to put on myself, because I want to be that guy.”

Tonyan spoke about how he knows he’s flying under the radar because of his injury last season. He also subtly let fans know that he’ll be back as a top tight end in the NFL this year.

“I grew so much,” Tonyan stated. “I’m not scared to come back. And I’m not over-eager to come back. I’m just, like, smiling internally because I’m like… Some people forgot.”