Jaguars cornerback/wide receiver Travis Hunter has been much-hyped for his status as a two-way player, first as a Heisman Trophy winner at Colorado and now in the NFL. But there’s another two-way player in the NFL this season who hasn’t received as much hype: Chiefs nose tackle and fullback Khyiris Tonga.
Like Hunter, Tonga has started every game on defense this season. Like Hunter, Tonga has played only limited offensive snaps this season. Tonga has two carries; Hunter has two catches. Both have picked up one first down.
Hunter plays a little bit more on offense, but not much more: Hunter has played 6.8 percent of the Jaguars’ offensive snaps, while Tonga has played 4.2 percent of the Chiefs’ offensive snaps.
The Jaguars have said Hunter is capable of being a full-time player at both wide receiver and cornerback, while the Chiefs consider Tonga only a situational short-yardage fullback in addition to his duties as a starter on the defensive line. But as far as their usage this season, both players are comparable.
Patriots coach Mike Vrabel, himself a former defensive player who occasionally lined up on offense as well, started using Tonga as a blocking fullback last season, when Tonga played 14 snaps on offense in New England. This year, Tonga signed a three-year, $21 million free agent contract with the Chiefs, and the Chiefs have increased his role on offense, including not just blocking but also running the ball.
Tonga said on the Chiefs’ YouTube channel that it was a thrill the first time he went into the offensive huddle with quarterback Patrick Mahomes and running back Kenneth Walker.
“It was super cool,” Tonga said. “Being in the offensive huddle is amazing, especially having the players we have, to share the huddle with them. The only thing in my mind was, Don’t mess it up. I just went out there to have fun. It makes it easy blocking for a guy like K9.”
Tonga even ran a route on a fourth-and-goal touchdown pass to Jalen Royals in Week 2, and Tonga said he was prepared to catch it if Mahomes threw to him but was a little relieved when Mahomes looked past him and threw to Royals.
“I was just making sure I didn’t drop it. Look it in if it came to me. It went past me, so it was OK,” Tonga said.
Could Tonga do anything else in Andy Reid’s offense? He said he’d even be up for throwing the ball on a trick play if that gets called.
“Having a guy like 15, I hope they don’t make me throw the ball, but if we have to I’m ready,” Tonga said.
Tonga, who has also played 19 snaps on special teams this season, is willing to do whatever he has to do to help his team win.
