The Cleveland Browns cut wide receiver Kadarius Toney, marking an unceremonious end with a third team.
The Browns cut Toney after three game-altering blunders in the Browns’ 27-14 loss to the division rival Pittsburgh Steelers. Toney was called for two penalties in the second half, and muffed a punt that led to the Steelers’ victory. This is now the third team that Toney has been cut from since coming into the league in 2021.
Toney appeared on just five offensive snaps. In the third quarter, Toney and fellow receiver Elijah Moore were called for an illegal motion penalty. In the fourth quarter, Toney was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct for throwing a ball at Steelers wide receiver Ben Skowronek. Later in the fourth quarter, Toney muffed a punt that was recovered by Skowronek at the Cleveland 20-yard line with 2:53 left in the game. The fumble robbed Cleveland of the chance to come back, and the Steelers ran out the clock.
Toney signed with the Browns’ practice squad in September. He was promoted to the active roster in December. He had no catches on just a single target. He also rushed twice for -4 yards.
Toney was drafted by the New York Giants with the 20th pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. As a rookie, he broke the Giants’ single-game receiving record with 189 yards on 10 catches. However, he was ejected from the game for punching Cowboys safety Damontae Kazee. He finished second on the team in receiving yards but did not score a touchdown the entire season.
He was traded to the Kansas City Chiefs in 2022 and scored his first NFL touchdown against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 10. He finished the regular season with 16 catches for 171 yards and two touchdowns. In Super Bowl LVII, Toney helped the Chiefs to a victory over the Philadelphia Eagles. He caught the go-ahead touchdown from quarterback Patrick Mahomes early in the fourth quarter–his only reception in the game. He then broke the NFL record for longest punt return in a Super Bowl with a 65-yard return; that return led to the Chiefs taking a 35-27 lead–the Chiefs won the game 38-35.
He returned to the Chiefs in the 2023 season. In the season opener against the Detroit Lions, Toney bobbled a pass that was intercepted by Lions safety Brian Branch for a game-tying touchdown in the third quarter. He had four drops in that game, including one that would have set up the Chiefs in range for a game-winning field goal in the fourth quarter.
Against the Buffalo Bills, Toney caught a lateral pass from tight end Travis Kelce and raced to the end zone. But the touchdown was called back because Toney had lined up with his helmet far across the line of scrimmage and was flagged for an offsides penalty.
Toney then had another bobbled pass that led to an interception against the New England Patriots in Week 15. Toney never played another snap for the Chiefs, being listed as inactive for the rest of the regular season and the entire playoff run. In an Instagram live post on Jan. 28, 2024, Toney claimed that he was not injured and was being sidelined from the team under false pretenses.
The Browns filled Toney’s spot on the roster by signing wide receivers Kaden Davis and and Jaelen Gill to the practice squad.
