Patriots’ Offseason Signing Praised As ‘Unsung’ Role Player
The 29-year-old has played in all seven games this season
The New England Patriots have arguably had the NFL’s best run defense through the first seven weeks of the 2025 campaign.
New England hasn’t allowed an opposing player to rush for at least 50 yards against them yet this season, marking the first time the Patriots have accomplished that through Week 7 of any campaign in franchise history.
ESPN’s Mike Reiss said on Tuesday that defensive tackle Khyiris Tonga has been a big part of the rush defense’s success, labeling him as the team’s most “unsung” player this season.
“The No. 3 option behind starters Milton Williams and Christian Barmore, Tonga arrived with a well-deserved reputation as a run stuffer. This season, he also has shown a knack for pushing the pocket as a rusher,” Reiss wrote. “The Patriots haven’t allowed a running back to total more than 50 rushing yards yet, and Tonga is part of the reason. He served as a game captain in Week 6, with coach Mike Vrabel noting he ‘does a lot of the dirty work.'”
The 29-year-old spent his 2021 rookie year with the Chicago Bears after being selected in the seventh round of that year’s draft.
Tonga then signed with the Minnesota Vikings in October 2022 and put up his best numbers that season. He recorded career highs in tackles (28) and passes defended (four) that year, while adding two quarterback hits and the only 0.5 sack since he entered the league.
Tonga spent 2023 in Minnesota as well before making 22 tackles across 13 games with the Arizona Cardinals last season.
New England signed the BYU product to a one-year, $2.1 million contract in March and he’s played in all seven games this fall.
Tonga has registered 12 tackles and one pass defended this season.
