Last Thursday night’s season-opening loss at home against the Detroit Lions is still stinging for many Kansas City Chiefs fans as Week 2 approaches. The one-point defeat was highlighted by poor play by receivers, and the primary target of the criticism was Kadarius Toney and his multiple dropped passes.
Chiefs head coach Andy Reid addressed Toney’s unusual performance on Monday during his Zoom press conference with reporters. The veteran coach preferred that the criticism be placed on him about why Toney struggled in his first game since his injury.
“I would probably take the blame on that,” Reid said. “I mean, the kid, when I said that after the game, he missed all the training camp from, from honestly, the first punt return, pre-practice on through. So he literally had no training camp. Until just the last few days, when we got back here, he did something we measured that we didn’t give him a lot. But with that, I thought his getting in the game was important.
“And then, to be fair, I’ve got to look in the mirror on that one that I probably didn’t put them in the best position there. Because he doesn’t drop the ball, and that’s just not his deal. He’s, he’s a very, very secure catcher. And I think the only way we’ll get him back is by playing him. I think this week will be different than last, but I thought it was important that he got in the game and caught up on the speed. But I probably put him in bad positions were in primary positions there, and especially later in the game, you know, legs back and all that.”
Toney finished with one reception for six yards in Thursday’s loss and seeing his first action of the year following a lengthy absence due to a knee injury. Reid is optimistic the young receiver will turn it around as he tries to get his feet firmly back under him during the season.
“Listen, I think he’s had some time here now to keep working, which I think will benefit him. Getting into that game, I thought, was an important thing. I mean, that part was important.” said Reid, “Put him in the positions I did. I probably shouldn’t have done that. But I think you’ll see better as we go down the road here from him.”