Kadarius Toney still has plenty of believers in the Chiefs’ locker room — at least for now.
Following Toney’s disastrous season debut in Kansas City’s 21-20 loss to the Lions last week, the ex-Giants receiver relayed to reporters that Chiefs head coach Andy Reid told him to simplify things.
“Don’t be a superhero,” Reid said, according to Toney, as Mahomes passed along a similar message.
Toney was targeted five times and caught just one pass for a single yard.
One of his drops led directly to an interception and another came at a crucial moment in the fourth quarter.
“The only way we’re going to get him back is by playing him,’’ Reid said, according to ESPN. “I think you’ll see better as we go down the road here from him.’’
Toney, who was selected No. 20 overall in the 2021 NFL Draft by the Giants — took the blame for his subpar play on the chin.
“I told coach, I told Pat, all the guys — that’s on me,” Toney said in his press conference. “At the end of the day, y’all count on me and rely on me to make certain plays, and I’ve got to be there to do that. There’s really no excuse, nothing you can blame it on — none of that.
“I know I could have made those plays.”
Toney, who was drafted out of Florida, has always flashed speed and athleticism but has been plagued by an inability to stay on the field, playing in just 20 games as he begins his third season.
Toney’s role in the Chiefs’ loss earned him the worst Pro Football Focus single-game grade for a receiver since 2018 with a mark of 29.7.
The Giants got a third-round and fifth-round pick for Toney when they traded him to the Chiefs last October.
