Struggling Chiefs WR still has a chance to redeem himself
Kadarius Toney has been under the microscope ever since Brett Veach touted him as a No. 1 wide receiver option heading into training camp this past summer. Given his struggles staying healthy throughout his NFL career, Kansas City Chiefs fans became frustrated with him immediately after he injured himself on the first day of camp, […]
Kadarius Toney has been under the microscope ever since Brett Veach touted him as a No. 1 wide receiver option heading into training camp this past summer. Given his struggles staying healthy throughout his NFL career, Kansas City Chiefs fans became frustrated with him immediately after he injured himself on the first day of camp, costing him the entire preseason. In a surprising twist, staying healthy has been the least of Toney's concerns in 2023.
Not only has Toney made several game-changing mistakes, but he's made them during high-profile games with a lot of eyes on it. He has dropped numerous passes throughout the season, most notably the ones in the season opener against the Detroit Lions that played a large part in Kansas City losing the game. Two of his drops this season have ricocheted into defenders' hands for interceptions.
Of course, Toney was highly scrutinized for the offensive offside penalty that Toney committed against the Buffalo Bills in Week 14. Opinions about the penalty vary all around the world, but at the end of the day, it negated a touchdown in a game that was lost by three points. The questions of whether or not Toney deserves to keep seeing the field are heating up.
Coach Andy Reid briefly touched on that subject on Monday while speaking to the media.
“I’m not going to get into all of that," Reid said. "The obvious is that he (Kadarius Toney) has to make sure he catches the ball and does that. He’s got a tremendous amount of talent. He’s a good kid, good attitude, good kid. You have to make those plays; he knows it as well as anybody. I’ll just leave it at that.”
There is a silver lining for Toney. Fellow wide receiver Skyy Moore has been put on injured reserve with a knee injury, which will cost him a minimum of four games. For Toney and the rest of the Chiefs' receivers that means more snaps are up for grabs, but Toney will have to prove himself to get them. That means making every opportunity, no matter how few he may get, count to the maximum.
Toney better not drop another pass this season, especially in a crucial situation. Working hard in practice and keeping a positive attitude will also go a long way in his favor. There is no doubt that Toney is tremendously talented, and K.C. desperately needs his playmaking ability. It is the main reason why he likely won't be benched down the stretch, but trust is waning. The Chiefs may utilize him as a change-of-pace running back like they have done a few times this season, and he may also get more reps as a punt returner. No matter the role he's playing, all it takes is one big play to gain favor and future opportunities.
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