Super Bowl LVIII is still nine days away, but some comments from members of the Kansas City Chiefs coaching staff on Friday seem to indicate that wideout Kadarius Toney could suit up for the big game.
The much-maligned third-year pro hasn't played since Week 15 against the New England Patriots, a contest that saw him deflect one of his targets to a defender for an interception for the second time in the season.
Toney missed his sixth straight tilt Sunday as the Chiefs defeated the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC Championship Game, 17-10.
#Chiefs special teams coordinator Dave Toub said Kadarius Toney is a possibility as a punt returner in the Super Bowl..
— PJ Green (@PJGreenTV) February 2, 2024
#Chiefs OC Matt Nagy said WR Kadarius Toney is in a good headspace and that he looked good in practice yesterday.
— PJ Green (@PJGreenTV) February 2, 2024
"It's a day by day thing for for him and where he's at."
The Florida product recorded six punt returns for 58 yards during the regular season, but that all came in the team's Week 11 loss against the Philadelphia Eagles. Toney posted six punt returns for 112 yards in Kansas City's run to a championship last winter, however, including a crucial 65-yarder during the fourth quarter of Super Bowl LVII against Philadelphia to help set up a good-ahead touchdown.
He also had 10 punt returns for 61 yards in his 10 games with the Chiefs in the 2022 regular season and one for no yards as a rookie with the New York Giants in 2021.
#Chiefs Travis Kelce on Kadarius Toney and hugging him after the Patriots game: "Man I just want him to know it's always love in this building.
— PJ Green (@PJGreenTV) February 2, 2024
"I know guys go through things both in this building and in their personal lives. He had a baby girl, beautiful baby girl so shout out…
Not only has Toney been inactive for nearly seven weeks though, but he's continued to be a headache for head coach Andy Reid and company this season.
The latest drama has been perhaps the most bizarre yet.
After he was ruled out for the AFC title game against Baltimore, Toney unleashed a profane rant on Instagram, claiming that the team was lying about his hip injury. Reid responded to the allegation on Monday, saying that the 25-year-old's appearance on the injury report was "not made up by any means."
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