Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Kadarius Toney surprised onlookers by participating in running back drills during a recent training camp session. Toney’s participation in running back drills showcased the Chiefs’ innovative approach to getting the ball into his possession. The young receiver is no stranger to this position, having lined up in the backfield 25 times in his professional career and 67 times during his college tenure at Florida.
In addition to running back practice, Toney also alternated between the Chiefs’ first-string offense, led by famed quarterback Patrick Mahomes, and the third-string unit with quarterback Chris Oladokun. Toney’s willingness and flexibility in position practice, highlights his adaptability and dedication as an athlete.
Traded to the Chiefs by the New York Giants in 2022, Toney is in his fourth year in the NFL. His arrival in Kansas City brought high expectations, but his performance has been inconsistent. Although demonstrating potential with moments of superstar skill, his time has been punctuated by significant drops and frequent injuries that have kept him off the field in 11 out of 31 games since his arrival.
Toney’s 2023 performance saw him make 27 receptions, achieving a total of 169 yards and a touchdown. However, despite his inconsistency and injury-related absences, Chiefs’ head coach Andy Reid displayed optimism for Toney’s future. He praised Toney’s performance when on the field and expressed eagerness to witness his continued competition.
Patrick Mahomes recently reflected on the Chiefs’ past season, including winning the Super Bowl and the room for improvement they still see in their offense. His comment, “we felt like we didn’t play our best football, especially offensively,” underscores the team’s commitment to enhancing their performance further. This same ethos of striving for improvement perhaps extends to Toney’s new training regime.
Kadarius Toney’s increased involvement in on-field plays seems to demonstrate the Chiefs’ commitment to optimizing their offensive strategies. His history of performance in the backfield, coupled with his potential as seen in scattered standout moments, presents a potentially unique asset to the team’s offensive lineup. The training camp experiment is a promising sign for Toney’s future contributions to the team, as well as an indication of the Chiefs’ willingness to pioneer flexible player strategies.
