Chiefs sign Robert Tonyan to PS
 

To the SHIP!

The Kansas City Chiefs are bringing in a pass-catcher that made a name for himself playing alongside Aaron Rodgers.

The Kansas City Chiefs are signing a new veteran tight end and red zone threat for quarterback Patrick Mahomes ahead of Week 17.

“We have signed TE Robert Tonyan to the Practice Squad,” the team relayed on December 23.

Tonyan first made a name for himself with the Green Bay Packers, joining the organization as an undrafted free agent in 2018. Slowly but surely, he carved out a role for himself inside an offense led by future Hall of Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers.

Over the course of his five seasons in Green Bay, Tonyan racked up 1,437 receiving yards in 68 regular season appearances (18 starts). The 6-foot-5 target also developed into a solid red zone threat for Rodgers, scoring 17 touchdowns with the Packers.

Tonyan’s breakout campaign came in 2020, when he posted a career-high 586 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns.

He spent the 2023 season with the Chicago Bears and parts of this year with the Minnesota Vikings, but Tonyan has yet to recapture his Packers magic as an offensive playmaker since parting ways with both Rodgers and the NFC North franchise.

As for playoff experience, Tonyan does have some. Over four postseason appearances with Green Bay, the tight end registered 8 catches for 82 yards and 1 touchdown.

Robert Tonyan Signing Supports Chiefs Tight End Room That Has Been Ravaged by Injuries

Tonyan should help bolster the KC tight end room, which has been devastated by injuries in 2024.

Most recently, undrafted rookie Baylor Cupp was placed on the practice squad injured list for the second time this season, leaving only veteran Anthony Firkser inside the organization behind Travis Kelce and Noah Gray — and the Chiefs just used up Firkser’s final practice squad elevation in Week 16.

Of course, Kansas City could elect to sign Firkser to the 53-man roster so that he’s available to them against the Pittsburgh Steelers, but now they have another option.

It typically takes new additions some time to get up to speed with head coach Andy Reid’s offensive system and playbook, but it’s possible Tonyan gets a trial-by-fire audition on Christmas Day. The Chiefs have consistently elevated a third tight end from the practice squad over the past several weeks, so expect either Firkser or Tonyan to be out there come Wednesday.

I like it, he was on the rise with GB there for a while

Hopefully this isn’t a reflection on Gray’s injury situation.

The deal is done!!!!!!

Totally forgot about him but after checking my notes from 2017 I'm quoted as "Mark Andrews meets Jason Witten"

Can he play RT?

Solid move, he’s a perfect TE3 for this offense. Not sure how quick he can get up to speed, but he’s definitely an upgrade for that role next year if they decide he’s worth keeping.

Nailed it!!

i always liked tonyan, great depth add at this point

Hendershot is due to come back shortly so Tonyan might just be good cover on the practice squad as Firkser has already been elevated a bunch of times and Cupp just got injured again.

Tonyan has been a good blocking TE and had a great 2022 with Rogers but then got injured and wasn't as productive after. We'll see how it goes I guess.

He was making some noise with Rodgers, not sure what the disconnect is with Love... he was looking much better than PS fodder there for a while

He hasn't been with GB since 22, he went to the Bears as a FA last year was with Minnesota for part of this year.

Thanks for the heads up I've apparently lost track of him

But he really did look to be on the rise a few years ago, dude had some bigtime catches with Rodgers...surprised to see him bouncing around like this

Special Teams?

Did they have to extend Skyy for the cash