Packers: 3 biggest surprises in first quarter of the season

Robert Tonyan

Entering Week 4, only two players in the league had five receiving touchdowns. One of them was Robert Tonyan.

Tonyan’s hat-trick of touchdowns last Monday night stole the headlines, but in reality, he’s been playing well for three games straight.

In his first two seasons with the Packers, Tonyan played in 27 games, catching 14 passes for 177 yards and two touchdowns. In the past three games, Tonyan has made 13 receptions for 173 yards and five touchdowns.

Now fully healthy after a core muscle injury caused him to miss time last season, and then limited him after he returned, Tonyan has been outstanding. He’s put his receiving ability on show with touchdowns in three straight games and he’s built a strong connection with Aaron Rodgers on the field.

With Davante Adams injured and then Allen Lazard also getting hurt, Green Bay needed one of its pass-catchers to give Rodgers a consistent, reliable target. Tonyan has stepped up when the team needed him, bringing in 13 catches on 14 targets for a phenomenal 92.9 percent catch rate.

Even when Adams, and eventually Lazard, return to the lineup, “Big Bob” Tonyan should still have an important role in this offense. He’s taken a huge step up in the first quarter of the season, playing his part in the NFL’s number one offense.