Andy Reid Defends Kadarius Toney After Rocky 2023 Season With Chiefs

The Kansas City Chiefs coach addressed wide receiver Kadarius Toney's future as he enters his fourth NFL season.

Dec 10, 2023; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Kadarius Toney (19) runs with the ball. / Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Kadarius Toney had a tumultuous 2023 NFL season, especially near the end.

Among the lowlights, Toney dropped a pass that resulted in an interception during the Chiefs' win over the New England Patriots in Week 15. He then missed the rest of the season with a hip injury, which Toney later claimed was not true.

Despite all of the drama on and off the field, Chiefs coach Andy Reid gave high praise to Toney when talking about his future on the team this week. Toney has been working with Kansas City quarterback Patrick Mahomes in Texas this offseason.

“Kadarius is arguably one of the most talented guys we have on the team,” Reid said, via Pro Football Talk. “It’s just a matter of being healthy and being able to stay on the field and you always hear about the reliability, accountability, all those things that go into it. And so I’m expecting him to come back ripping and ready to go. It’s great that he’s down there working with Pat and putting the work in. So that’s a position.

"Listen, we like Kadarius. It’s just a matter of having him on the field.”

Toney is set to make $2.53 million in 2024, his fourth season since he was selected by the New York Giants with the No. 20 pick in the 2021 NFL draft. The Chiefs have until May 2 to decide if they want to exercise his fifth-year option for 2025.