Vikings Release 'Pro Bowl-Caliber' Player to Clear Room for Daniel Jones
The Minnesota Vikings have cut ties with a promising skill player to clear space on the roster for recently acquired quarterback Daniel Jones.
Minnesota brought tight end Robert Tonyan into the fold this preseason as the team prepped for approximately half of the campaign without two-time Pro Bowler T.J. Hockenson, who continued to rehabilitate a serious knee injury he suffered in December 2023.
Tonyan stole the spotlight during training camp and was on track to at least compete for meaningful snaps at the position, particularly on passing downs as the best pass-catching tight end on the roster with Hockenson out.
However, the former member of the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears suffered a back injury over the summer that derailed that trajectory and ultimately kept him out of all but five games this season. Tonyan has played only 52 snaps for the Vikings all year, and just 15 of those on offense.
With Hockenson healthy, Minnesota began trimming the position group. First, the Vikings waived tight end Nick Muse on his birthday earlier this week. They then cut ties with Tonyan on Friday, Nov. 29, in order to clear a spot on the practice squad for Jones.
Tonyan, 30 years old, could have rebuilt his value as a rotational tight end had he remained healthy. At the peak of his career in 2020, Tonyan caught 52 passes for 586 yards and 11 touchdowns from then-Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
Two years later in September 2022, Rodgers spoke publicly about wanting Tonyan with him in Green Bay, calling the tight end a "Pro Bowl-caliber level" contributor who was in a different echelon of playmakers than the rest of the Packers tight ends at the time.
Minnesota's offense is also running at a higher level than perhaps anyone outside of the organization might have guessed, as Sam Darnold has excelled. However, with Hockenson back and Jones joining the fray as extra QB security for the playoff push, Tonyan ended up unemployed ahead of the team's Week 13 matchup with the Arizona Cardinals.
Related articles
Canucks considering a Brock Boeser trade: The deadline has been set
Eagles’ Jalen Carter earns strong endorsement for 100 percent snap TNF performance
Oilers coach Knoblauch comments hint towards lineup change with veteran players this season
Jaquan Brisker Calls Out Bears Teammates in Since-Deleted PostThe Latest
Seahawks’ DK Metcalf, Tyler Lockett good to go for Week 13
Tһe Seаttle Seаһаwks wіll fасe tһe New York Jets іn Week 13, аnd two of tһeіr top tаrɡets wіll be аvаіlаble. Botһ DK Metсаlf (sһoulder) аnd Tyler Loсkett (knee) prасtісed іn full on Frіdаy аnd аre expeсted to plаy on Sundаy, ...
Maxx Crosby’s Postgame Message to Patrick Mahomes Turns Heads
The Kansas City Chiefs and Las Vegas Raiders have become quite the rivalry in the AFC. The two teams play each other twice every season as AFC West foes, and it's clear there's no love lost between them, especially after things ...
Bears' Jaquan Brisker tweets cryptic message after Matt Eberflus firing
Once it was official that the Chicago Bears fired Matt Eberflus, safety Jaquan Brisker went to X, formerly known as Twitter, to blast off a rather cryptic message about the former head coach. While he never openly explained the meaning behind his posts, ...
Will extra preparation be enough to solve Steelers' red zone woes?
Fans of the Pittsburgh Steelers are understandably frustrated over the lack of scoring the past few weeks, but is it fixable? The OC Arthur Smith led-Pittsburgh Steelers offense rank 13th in red zone attempts per game with 3.5 but have one of the worst ...
Bill Belichick has already hinted at stance on Chicago Bears job with Caleb Williams comments
The Chicago Bears are on the hunt for a new head coach, but it seems that NFL legend Bill Belichick may not be interested in coaching Caleb Williams. The Bears have sacked their head coach Matt Eberflus following another disappointing loss, this time to ...
