Two months after being knocked out of Super Bowl LVIII, Kadarius Toney earned a ringing endorsement from Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid, signaling that the wide receiver still has a future with the defending champions.
“Kadarius is arguably one of the most talented guys on the team,” Reid told reporters Monday, according to NBC Sports. “It’s just a matter of being healthy and being able to stay on the field, and you always hear about reliability, responsibility, all those things that come into play. And so I expect for him to come back strong and ready to go “It’s great that he’s… working with Pat and getting the job done. …Look, we love Kadarius, it’s just a matter of having him on the field. “
Reid’s remarks came shortly after quarterback Patrick Mahomes revealed that Toney was among the Chiefs teammates who recently joined him in Texas for private workouts ahead of the 2024 season. They certainly shed an optimistic light on Toney’s long-term prospects in Kansas City after a tumultuous 2023 campaign, which included headlining miscues on the field as well as a year-end controversy in which the former New York Giants appeared to accuse the Chiefs of lying about his injury status.
The 25-year-old wide receiver last played in Week 15 of the 2023 season, in which he recorded just 27 catches for 169 yards in 13 games. But there is reason to believe his role could be more significant in 2024, with fellow star Rashee Rice currently facing trial for her role in a recent high-speed six-car crash.
Acquired via trade from the Giants during the 2022 season, Toney was instrumental in Kansas City’s Super Bowl victory that year, scoring to put the Chiefs ahead of the Philadelphia Eagles and setting a record for most longest punt return in Super Bowl history. He played in just 12 games in a season and a half with New York to begin his NFL career.
