Packers notebook: Confidence rising in TE Robert Tonyan
Tight end figures to be one of the most competitive positions on the roster for the Green Bay Packers during training camp, but coach Matt LaFleur confirmed Tuesday that his confidence is rising in what Robert Tonyan – who missed a big chunk of last season with a core muscle injury – can bring to the table in 2020.
The Packers coach praised the work Tonyan did to build his body and gain another level of comfort in the offense over the offseason, and he didn’t rule out the possibility of Tonyan eventually becoming the starter at tight end.
“Absolutely. We feel really good about Bobby,” LaFleur said Tuesday. “I will tell you, he worked really hard this offseason. You can tell, his body, he’s in great shape. He’s got a much better understanding of what we’re trying to do on the offensive side of the football.”
Tonyan, a converted receiver who has been in Green Bay since late in 2017, caught 10 passes for 100 yards and a score while playing 193 total snaps a year ago. His season got sidetracked in October when he suffered a significant core muscle injury during a win in Dallas. The issue eventually required surgery.
An athletic player with natural receiving ability, Tonyan has embraced the difficult transition to tight end, with help from Marcedes Lewis on blocking and new opportunities opening up in LaFleur’s offense as the “move” tight end.
Becoming a true starter in 2020 might be difficult, given Lewis’ ability as a run blocker, the emergence of Jace Sternberger as the likely option in the passing game and the arrival of do-it-all third-round pick Josiah Deguara, but Tonyan has a potentially valuable skillset in the right role. Tight ends capable of playing multiple spots and providing impact in the passing game can be difficult matchups, especially in LaFleur’s offense.
Linebacker Oren Burks, who worked out with Tonyan in Nashville during the offseason, sees big things coming from the Packers tight end.
“He did a great job coming off of surgery this offseason,” Burks said. “I’ve seen the work he’s been putting in. He’s a grinder, man. He loves the game. He plays at a fast tempo. I’m excited to see what he does this year. I know he’s going to be a difference-maker on our offense.”
Caution with Linsley
LaFleur said the Packers sat out center Corey Linsley on Tuesday as a “precautionary” measure and expressed no concern over the seriousness of the issue.
The Packers used both Lucas Patrick and Elgton Jenkins at center in 11-on-11 work. Sixth-round pick Jake Hanson has also played reps at center for the second-team offense.
LaFleur wasn’t able to provide an immediate update on the individual statuses of Za’Darius Smith, Montravius Adams and David Bakhtiari, who all exited Tuesday’s practice with injuries.
Jones jokes about Clark’s deal
Packers running back Aaron Jones, who is entering the final year of his rookie contract, had jokes for Kenny Clark after the Pro Bowl defensive lineman signed a $70 million extension on Saturday.
“I told him congratulations. I was joking with him, I hope you left me some money,” Jones said Tuesday.
Jones could be next. Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported after Clark’s extension that getting a deal done with Jones is now a “priority” for the Packers.
MVS battled ankle injury
Receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling hasn’t lost confidence entering 2020 but he admitted an injury suffered in October hurt him down the stretch in 2019.
Valdes-Scantling hurt his knee and ankle against the Detroit Lions, and the lingering effects of the ankle issue helped submarine his season.
“It was the ankle. The knee went away in a week or two. The ankle lingered, especially with my position, doing a lot of cutting on it. Learning how to play around an ankle injury,” Valdes-Scantling said.
Valdes-Scantling still ended up playing in all 16 games, but he caught only a handful of passes while watching his playing time evaporate over the final two months of the season and into the playoffs.
The Packers are counting on Valdes-Scantling to bounce back from the injury and provide the offense with a legitimate deep threat in 2020.
