Packers: Tight end Robert Tonyan becomes a primary target

In a game filled with an over-abundance of lowlights, the performance of tight end Robert Tonyan in the Green Bay Packers‘ loss to the New York Jets was something to get excited about.

Tonyan, who missed half of the 2021 season after a torn ACL injury to his left knee, was the Packers’ leading receiver in the Week 6 contest. He had 10 catches for 90 yards. In the process, the 10 catches were the most by a Green Bay tight end in a game in the team’s history.

He was also targeted 12 times in the game, by far the most in his career; his previous target high was seven, which happened three times in his career.

The 10 catches were a career high, and the 90 yards receiving were the second-most in his career (he had 98 yards receiving in an October 5, 2020, game versus Atlanta). He had three TDs in that same contest. (For the record, 2020 was Tonyan’s best season; he had 52 receptions and 11 TDs.)

Tonyan, an undrafted free agent who has been with the Packers five seasons, became the 23rd player in Packers history to have 10 or more catches in a game. Former Pack wide receiver Davante Adams tops the list with 19 career games with 10 or more catches, by far the most in Green Bay team history.

Here is a list of Green Bay players with the most career games with 10 or more receptions:

19-Davante Adams
7-Donald Driver, Sterling Sharpe
3-Randall Cobb, Jordy Nelson, Don Hutson
2-Ty Montgomery, Javon Walker, Antonio Freeman, Robert Brooks, James Lofton
1-Robert Tonyan, James Jones, Dorsey Levens, Don Beebe, Edgar Bennett, Vince Workman, Gerry Ellis, Eddie Lee Ivery, Ken Payne, Max McGee, Billy Howton, Bob Mann

Looking at the NFL list, Antonio Brown tops the list with 23 career games with 10 or more receptions. He is followed by Andre Johnson (22) and the aforementioned Davante Adams (20). A total of 33 players have had 10 or more games in their careers with 10+ receptions.

Tonyan, who is now the Packers’ leading receiver this year with 27 receptions, also became the 88th tight end in NFL history to have 10 or more receptions in a game. Tony Gonzalez tops among all tight ends with 15 career games with 10+ catches. He is followed on the list by Zach Ertz and Jason Witten with 11 games each.

A healthy Robert Tonyan could mean a significant kick-start for the Packers offense. That and a receiving corps that has been diminished by injuries could mean another 10-reception game is a possibility for Tonyan this season.