Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Kadarius Toney, who had been removed from the injury report leading up to Super Bowl LVIII, will not be taking the field for the game.
Despite his absence from the injury report, Toney has been declared inactive for Sunday’s matchup against the San Francisco 49ers, as reported by ESPN.
His sidelined status comes after a prolonged absence from the Chiefs’ lineup since Week 15 due to ongoing hip and ankle injuries. Notably, he was also sidelined for the AFC Championship Game against the Baltimore Ravens, citing both injury and personal reasons, notably the recent birth of his daughter.
However, Toney stirred controversy on the day of the game with an explicit outburst on Instagram Live, where he contested the legitimacy of his injury.
Clarifying his remarks later, Toney claimed they were aimed at fans of his former team, the New York Giants, while Chiefs coach Andy Reid refuted any misinformation regarding Toney’s condition.
Just a year ago, Toney played a significant role in the Chiefs’ Super Bowl journey, securing 10 receptions, including a crucial touchdown in the championship victory. However, his third season with the team, following a trade in 2022, has been marred by struggles to remain on the field.
Despite being recognized as one of the Chiefs’ most dynamic receivers, his contributions have been limited to 27 receptions for 169 yards and a single touchdown this season.
In further setbacks for the Chiefs, All-Pro left guard Joe Thuney has been ruled out due to a pectoral injury while running back Jerick McKinnon has been activated from injured reserve. McKinnon, who underwent surgery for a core muscle injury earlier in January, remains under scrutiny and will be a game-time decision, according to NFL.com.
