Robert Tonyan’s appearance at TE U last week should inspire hope for Packers fans. The 2020 breakout star tore his ACL in week 8 of the season last year, missing the rest of 2021. But video surfacing last week of Tonyan running on the sidelines, looking strong in doing so, should inspire hope for the Green and Gold.
A healthy Tonyan appeared in all 16 games in the 2020 season, starting in 8 of them. In those games, the 6’5″ TE hauled in over 50 receptions, over 500 yards, and 11 TD catches. He was a big target for Aaron Rodgers in the red zone and an absolute offensive weapon. If Tonyan can provide similar production in 2022, that would be a massive addition to this Packers team.
There is no question that this offensive will be looking to make up for the losses of both Davante Adams and MVS. Plenty has been written and plenty has been reported on exactly that. By no means is Robert Tonyan going to fill that void. However if the Packers can get a healthy, full season of productivity out of big #85, that would go a long way for an offense with many question marks.
Speaking to question marks on the Packers offense, Tonyan is not the only player on this side of the ball rehabbing from a torn ACL.
The fanbase certainly welcomed positive news of Packers players rehabbing from this particular injury. After a 2020 New Years Eve Practice that saw All-World LT David Bahktiari go down to an ACL tear, the road to recovery had not been kind. Bahktiari has since appeared in just one game since, and missed out on each of the teams last two playoff appearances.
As well, emerging running back, Kylin Hill appears a likely candidate to open the 2022 season on the PUP list. Hill was seen as a dark horse candidate to play a growing role in the backfield for the team prior to tearing his ACL in the 2021 season.
TE U was started in 2021 by George Kittle and Greg Olson. The two high profile players had the goal to gather top NFL tight ends for a three day off season workout.
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Zach has been a lifelong Packers fan since his earliest memories of Brett Favre\\\'s Super Bowl win in Super Bowl XXXII. A proud shareholder of the team, he bleeds Green and Gold despite being born and raised in New Jersey. You can follow him on twitter at @RapMasterZach.
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