Chiefs release WR Kadarius Toney among roster cuts
The Chiefs are releasing the wide receiver Kadarius Toney, according to a source who informed that ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Tuesday.
By Adam Teicher
Aug 27, 2024 05:40 PM
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Less than two years after delivering one of the iconic plays in franchise history, wide receiver Kadarius Toney was among the players cut by the Kansas City Chiefs on Tuesday.
Toney’s 65-yard return of a punt during the 4th quarter of Super Bowl LVII was instrumental in helping bring the Chiefs winning 38-35 in the game against Philadelphia Eagles. Toney was also able to score receiving touchdowns within the final quarter initially was in the midst of Eagles players on the return, but then was able to break free and cut into the side of the stadium. Toney was attacked prior to reaching the goal line however, the play set up the Chiefs their final touchdown.
The other Chiefs Super Bowl hero, wide receiver Mecole Hardman was included on his debut on the 53-player team. The Chiefs retained seven wide receivers from their original roster.
Hardman was the one to score the game-winning touchdown during the final minutes in the Super Bowl LVIII win over the San Francisco 49ers.
Justyn Ross was also one of the wide receivers released by the Chiefs. Ross was a receiver on the ball six times for 53 yards in the last season.
The Chiefs also sacked the former European rugby player Louis Reesz-Zammit who was trying to be a part of the team as running back. Rees-Zammit only got a few workouts as a running back during training camp. In the preseason, he ran six times, gaining 22 yards, and caught one pass for three yards.
The Chiefs have also added another tight end to their roster by acquiring Peyton Hendershot from the Dallas Cowboys for an unspecified 2026 seventh-round selection.
The Chiefs also exchanged the 2025 seventh-round draft pick for a seventh-round pick to the Arizona Cardinals for defensive lineman Cameron Thomas.
Toney joined his first season in NFL in 2021, as a first-round selection for the New York Giants. Toney had been traded to the Chiefs during the middle of 2022’s season for third and sixth-round draft selections.
The Chiefs in May opted out of the option for a fifth-year extension on Toney’s contract.
Toney was a receiver on 16 passes over nine games in his first season during his first season with the Chiefs. They believed he would be their No. one wide receiver in 2023 but it didn’t happen.
He missed the entire training camp due to surgery to repair a torn meniscus. He returned just in time to begin the regular season but ended up catching just 27 passes. He twice blocked the seemingly ball catchable to defenders to make interceptions.
Toney was also able to score the winning touchdown following the lateral of Travis Kelce at the end of a Week 14 contest in the Buffalo Bills, but the play was cut out after Toney was punished for being offside, and the Chiefs ended up losing the game.
Toney was not active for the of the four Chiefs game in the postseason.
After 32 contests, he’s accumulated an average of 82 receptions, resulting in three touchdowns and 760 yards.
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