Kadarius Toney has been a game-changer for the Kansas City Chiefs since joining the team midway through the season via a trade with the New York Giants. A former first-round pick, Toney was seen as a bust by some who had lofty expectations for his time in New York. After putting together a productive season in Kansas City, his trajectory seems to have changed for the better in Andy Reid’s prolific offense.
Reid was asked about what has enabled Toney to become such a key factor in the Chiefs’ offense, and the veteran head coach told reporters that the receiver’s fully-healed hamstring has played a large part in his success.
“The main thing was that the hamstring was healthy, that was kind of the hang-up and it kept occurring,” Reid explained. “Knowing him now, I’m not sure he ever let it get to the healing point because he wants to play, you know it’s one of those things.
“I’m sure he was saying, ‘I’m okay, I’m okay, it’s fine,’ but (it’s) because of his desire to be out there, he loves to play the game. That’s what I’ve noticed most is that he wants to be in there so we backed him up a little bit and just made sure that he could be – kind of get healthy in that area and he’s been doing great since – knock on wood there but he’s been doing great.”
Kansas City will need Toney at full health against the Cincinnati Bengals this weekend, and judging from Reid’s comments, it seems that the electric second-year receiver should be able to play at 100-percent effort in the AFC Championship Game.
With Toney completely healed from the hamstring injury that kept him out in Week 13 against the Bengals earlier in the season, all eyes are on quarterback Patrick Mahomes and the ankle injury he sustained last week against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
