New England Patriots nose tackle Khyiris Tonga is taking after his head coach, Mike Vrabel, who famously played on both sides of the ball.
The 335-pound Tonga saw an uptick of offensive snaps in Week 10 as a blocking fullback and helped open several running lanes, including TreVeyon Henderson's game-sealing 69-yard touchdown, in which the big man sealed the edge and took out several Buccaneers players.
Asked about Tonga's two-way ability, Vrabel pointed out that the 29-year-old actually plays in all three units.
"That's a guy that plays on three phases," Vrabel said, via Doug Kyed of the Boston Herald. "Helped us win defensively, helped us win offensively, and then goes out there and stands in the way of three guys on the field goal protection unit."
The Patriots used Tonga on eight offensive snaps in Week 10, six more than he'd previously played in his entire career. Per Next Gen Stats, all eight of his snaps were designed runs that went for 75 total yards -- including the 69-yarder from Henderson. (Sidebar: A play-action with him on the field must be coming!) Tonga also played 26 defensive snaps, generating two pressures on 17 pass rushes. He played four special teams snaps.
Tonga played tight end in high school at 280 pounds -- hopefully, some producers at Prime Video have spent the week digging that up for Thursday night's showcase against the New York Jets.
"It's impressive ... just how quickly he gets out of his stance," Vrabel said. "He's been able to get out in front of the running back. Sometimes fullbacks are a little slower, they're out of phase with the runner and the runners run up their heels."
Frankly, Tonga deserved some attention even before his wall-crashing block on Henderson's TD run. The nomadic nose tackle seems to have found a home in New England. A seventh-round pick by Chicago in 2021, Tonga spent one year with the Bears, two in Minnesota, and last year in Arizona before landing with the Pats. Tonga helps stabilize the middle of the Pats' defense as a rotational defender, eats blockers, can push the pocket, and frees up others on stunts.
The move to offense put a spotlight on the big man, but his improved play in Year 5 has been emblematic of an entire Patriots squad that gets the best out of its players. That's a credit to the coaching staff -- one that can see the benefit of a 335-pounder lining up at fullback.
