Report: McHenry East grad Robert Tonyan could start for Packers

Robert Tonyan found himself fighting for a job in his first three NFL training camps.

This summer, Tonyan is battling for “the” job with the Green Bay Packers. Tonyan could be in line to be their starting tight end.

There has been speculation from various news reports throughout training camp that, with former tight end Jimmy Graham now with the Bears, Tonyan, a 2012 McHenry East graduate, might become the starting tight end.

The Athletic's Matt Schneidman further indicated that could be the case when he quoted Packers coach Matt LaFleur as saying Tonyan "absolutely" has a chance to start.

Schneidman’s report read that the Packers likely will keep four tight ends: Tonyan, Marcedes Lewis, Jace Sternberger and Josiah Deguara.

Tonyan (6-foot-5, 237 pounds) has 14 receptions for 177 yards and two touchdowns in his two NFL seasons. He was signed by Detroit as an undrafted free agent in 2017, but released before the season.

Green Bay signed Tonyan to its practice squad with four remaining games in 2017, then re-signed him after the season. Tonyan has been valuable as a special teams contributor and also played some in the offense as a backup.

Now, Tonyan, who went to Indiana State as a quarterback and flourished there as a wide receiver, has a chance for a more integral role. The Packers took Sternberger in the third round of the 2019 NFL draft.

Schneidman wrote that Tonyan “has flashed in the preseason at times. With Jimmy Graham now in Chicago, his departure opens up 60 targets from last year. Tonyan could have some spiked weeks as an athletic former college wideout.”