GREEN BAY – It was supposed to be the type of play that propels an individual's season in a positive fashion.
Unfortunately, that wasn't the case for Robert Tonyan, but his forward progress has resumed with a strong start to training camp in 2020.
"Now that I'm fully healthy, I'm ready to go," Tonyan said after Wednesday's practice, another solid day of work in an intriguing competition amongst several young tight ends in the Packers' offense. "Never felt better."
It's showing with the consistent plays and reliable hands on display in the early stages of camp. Many thought this is where Tonyan's game was headed last October.
When he made a leaping, tip-toeing, highlight-reel sideline catch for a 23-yard gain at Dallas, it helped set up a first-quarter touchdown and marked Tonyan's second reception of 20-plus yards in the season's first five games.

The problem was as his 6-5, 237-pound frame crashed to the AT&T Stadium turf, something didn't feel right. He thought he just landed awkwardly on his tailbone and tried to keep playing, but soon felt his leg "dragging."
Little did he know he had hurt his hip rather significantly, and the injury kept him out the next five games and limited him the rest of the season. He then needed core-muscle surgery in the offseason.
That's all behind him now, and for a player who's gone from high school quarterback to small-college wide receiver (at Indiana State) to undrafted tight end released by his first NFL team (Detroit) to a practice-squadder in Green Bay looking for another chance, he simply chalked the last 10 months up to another obstacle he's had to overcome, no regrets or pity necessary.
"Definitely last year I was down because I've never missed a game in my life," he said. "I've never been injured.
"I've been through so much adversity in my life, just it is what it is. I mean, it's literally 90 percent of how you react to it."
So once he got past the surgery, he kept plowing ahead. During the pandemic-limited offseason, he worked out in Nashville with teammate Oren Burks and San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle, the preeminent player at the position in the league right now.
The two have shared an agent since entering the NFL three years ago, and they share a hairstyle now as well. Tonyan in no way compares himself to the All-Pro Kittle, but he takes competing with him in workouts seriously and makes the most of it.
He has the same approach to the mentorship of Packers veteran tight end Marcedes Lewis, who Tonyan said has been a valuable source of encouragement on and off the field. He appreciates how a polished pro like Lewis provides an example of how to both execute on the field and carry oneself as a teammate in the locker room.
"He just wants me to be the best me … being the big brother that he is," Tonyan said.
Lewis has several young tight ends under his wing, with second-year pro Jace Sternberger, rookie third-round pick Josiah Deguara, and undrafted prospect Evan Baylis all competing for snaps in Head Coach Matt LaFleur's offense.
LaFleur likes the flexibility and multiple personnel groupings a stable of tight ends allows, but outside of Lewis' 15 years in the league, the other four have combined for just 42 games of NFL experience (including playoffs).
Both Tonyan and Sternberger missed large chunks of the season last year, and Tonyan appeared headed for a larger role with Sternberger out for the first half of 2019, until the spectacular catch and subsequent injury.
"I think he was making his way," LaFleur said. "Anytime you get a young player that hasn't had a ton of experience and you take him out for a while, yeah, it totally sets you back. To his credit he showed a lot of toughness in being able to come back."
Tonyan caught his second touchdown pass in early December last year – his first was his first NFL reception on an Aaron Rodgers scramble-bomb at Seattle in 2018 – but his overall production post-injury fell off the pace. He had four catches for 66 yards through five games last year and just six grabs for 34 yards in eight games after that, through the postseason.
Opportunity abounds for the Packers' tight ends with the team having moved on from Jimmy Graham, and Tonyan believes he can answer the call. He senses others, like Lewis and LaFleur, believe in him, too.
"We're just really excited to have him healthy," LaFleur said. "I can tell he's really worked hard this offseason. He was down in Nashville and busting his butt on a daily basis, and I think it's going to pay off for him."
Snapshots from the Green Bay Packers' training-camp practice on Aug. 19, 2020, at Ray Nitschke Field.

WR Malik Turner

WR Malik Turner

DL Treyvon Hester

DLs Kingsley Keke & Kenny Clark

K Mason Crosby

G/T Billy Turner

G Lane Taylor

T Rick Wagner

T Cody Conway

C Jake Hanson

C Corey Linsley

G Lucas Patrick

T/G Alex Light

G Jon Runyan

QB Aaron Rodgers

QB Aaron Rodgers

QB Aaron Rodgers

QB Tim Boyle

QB Jordan Love

QB Jordan Love

QB Tim Boyle

WR Darrius Shepherd

FB John Lovett

WR Malik Taylor

WR Jake Kumerow

WR Reggie Begelton

WR Equanimeous St. Brown

WR Equanimeous St. Brown

WR Allen Lazard

WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling

WR Malik Turner

WR Malik Turner

WR Malik Turner

WR Davante Adams

WR Davante Adams

WR Davante Adams

RB Aaron Jones

RB Jamaal Williams

RB Dexter Williams

RB Dexter Williams

RB Damarea Crockett

RB Tyler Ervin

TE Josiah Deguara

RB AJ Dillon

TE Jace Sternberger

TE Jace Sternberger


WR Reggie Begelton

WR Jake Kumerow

WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling

WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling

WR Malik Turner

WR Malik Turner

Practice break

QB Aaron Rodgers hands off to RB Jamaal Williams

RB Jamaal Williams

Tight ends

RB Dexter Williams

RB AJ Dillon

RB AJ Dillon

RB Damarea Crockett

RB Damarea Crockett

Tight ends

WR Malik Turner

A group of TEs and FB

T Rick Wagner & C Jake Hanson

Offensive line drills

RB Aaron Jones

RB Jamaal Williams

G Lucas Patrick

LB Kamal Martin

LB Delontae Scott, DL Dean Lowry & DL Kingsley Keke

DL Dean Lowry

DL Kingsley Keke

A football ready to be snapped

Offensive linemen

Offensive linemen

Offensive linemen

Offensive linemen

Offensive linemen

S Vernon Scott

S Vernon Scott

S Henry Black

S Henry Black

S Darnell Savage

S Adrian Amos

S Darnell Savage

S Raven Greene

S Vernon Scott

S Vernon Scott

S Henry Black

S Will Redmond

S Darnell Savage

S Adrian Amos

S Adrian Amos

S Adrian Amos

S Darnell Savage

S Raven Greene

TE Robert Tonyan

WR Davante Adams

WR Davante Adams

WR Davante Adams

WR Malik Turner

LB Kamal Martin

LB Delontae Scott

WR Malik Turner

CB Kevin King

Defensive backs

QB Aaron Rodgers

Packers jerseys

TE Robert Tonyan

TE Josiah Deguara

QB Jordan Love

RB Aaron Jones

RB Dexter Williams

DL Kingsley Keke

FB John Lovett

S Henry Black

Defensive line drills

CB Chandon Sullivan

CB Kevin King

CB Jaire Alexander

Packers helmet

S Adrian Amos, CB Jaire Alexander & CB Kevin King