The Kansas City Chiefs are signing a new veteran tight end and red zone threat for quarterback Patrick Mahomes ahead of Week 17.

“We have signed TE Robert Tonyan to the Practice Squad,” the team relayed on December 23.

Tonyan first made a name for himself with the Green Bay Packers, joining the organization as an undrafted free agent in 2018. Slowly but surely, he carved out a role for himself inside an offense led by future Hall of Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers.

Over the course of his five seasons in Green Bay, Tonyan racked up 1,437 receiving yards in 68 regular season appearances (18 starts). The 6-foot-5 target also developed into a solid red zone threat for Rodgers, scoring 17 touchdowns with the Packers.

Tonyan’s breakout campaign came in 2020, when he posted a career-high 586 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns.

He spent the 2023 season with the Chicago Bears and parts of this year with the Minnesota Vikings, but Tonyan has yet to recapture his Packers magic as an offensive playmaker since parting ways with both Rodgers and the NFC North franchise.

As for playoff experience, Tonyan does have some. Over four postseason appearances with Green Bay, the tight end registered 8 catches for 82 yards and 1 touchdown.

Tonyan should help bolster the KC tight end room, which has been devastated by injuries in 2024.

Most recently, undrafted rookie Baylor Cupp was placed on the practice squad injured list for the second time this season, leaving only veteran Anthony Firkser inside the organization behind Travis Kelce and Noah Gray — and the Chiefs just used up Firkser’s final practice squad elevation in Week 16.

Of course, Kansas City could elect to sign Firkser to the 53-man roster so that he’s available to them against the Pittsburgh Steelers, but now they have another option — or two.

Reserve tight end Peyton Hendershot was also designated to return to practice on December 23. Although it’s unclear if Hendershot would be ready to play on Wednesday.

As for Tonyan, while it typically takes new additions some time to get up to speed with head coach Andy Reid’s offensive system and playbook, it’s possible the veteran newcomer gets a trial-by-fire audition on Christmas Day. The Chiefs have consistently elevated a third tight end from the practice squad over the past several weeks, so expect either Firkser, Tonyan or a healthy Hendershot to be activated versus the Steelers.