Ex-Chiefs receiver waived by Browns after mistake-ridden game days before matchup with his former team
Kadarius Toney's time with the Cleveland Browns has come to an end. The former Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver has been waived by the Browns, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports. And it comes after a very poor performance in the Browns' latest loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday. Toney was responsible for a muffed punt […]
Kadarius Toney's time with the Cleveland Browns has come to an end.
The former Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver has been waived by the Browns, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports.
And it comes after a very poor performance in the Browns' latest loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday.
Toney was responsible for a muffed punt with just three minutes remaining. And the Steelers were able to recover the ball, all but solidifying their win.
Toney spent the first part of the season on Cleveland's practice squad, but was promoted to the active roster on Dec. 7. And after just one game on the 53-man roster, the team decided they had seen enough.
So far this season, he has appeared in three games for the Browns with only one target, along with two carries for negative four yards.
Prior to his time with the Browns, he spent two seasons with the Chiefs. The team acquired him in a trade from the New York Giants ahead of the deadline in 2022. He was the ultimate reclamation project after injuries held him to just 12 games played, 41 receptions, and 420 receiving yards with the Giants over 1.5 seasons.
But now he hits the market once again, and will look to make his mark with another team.
More on Toney's time with the Chiefs, per Charles Goldman
The former first-round draft pick out of the University of Florida gave the Chiefs the slight boost they needed to stabilize the wide receiver room down the stretch in 2022 heading into the playoffs. Toney appeared in nine regular-season games, recording 16 catches for 171 yards and two touchdowns, all while battling a nagging hamstring injury. He'd go on to secure a touchdown reception and a record-setting 65-yard punt return in the fourth quarter of Super Bowl LVII.
Toney struggled the following season after missing the entirety of training camp due to an injury. The team managed to get him back on the field for Week 1 against the Detroit Lions, but the lack of preparation he’d had all offseason was palpable. He’d finish the 2023 NFL season with 29 receptions for 169 yards and one touchdown. He dealt with injuries again during the season, but he claimed in a viral rant on Instagram that the team was lying about his injury status. He was also a healthy scratch for Super Bowl LVIII after playing the role of Deebo Samuel on the scout team.
This offseason they gave him every opportunity to rise to the occasion and earn a spot on the team. They even carved out a unique hybridized role for him, having him play both running back and receiver. Injuries would again stifle his ability to build consistency during training camp, and at the end of the day, the Chiefs couldn't wait any longer for him to develop as they'd hoped. If Toney is claimed by another team, they'll assume his $2.53 million salary for the 2024 NFL season. Otherwise, the Chiefs will eat that dead money.
