‘Athletic freak’ Chiefs star has to improve, says Rob Gronkowski

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Kadarius Toney continues to get criticism from former players and analysts.

The latest to throw the Kansas City Chiefs receiver under the bus is Rob Gronkowski, a former four-time Super Bowl Champion and four-time All-Pro tight end, likely destined to be in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Throughout the 2023 season, the 24-year-old has been criticized mercilessly for his dismal campaign.

In a season that’s been mainly underwhelming for Kansas City wide receivers, Kadarius Toney’s been the scapegoat more often than most.

Nearly two weeks ago, the Mobile, Alabama native’s offside penalty negated his go-ahead score, following the heads-up lateral from another future Hall of Fame tight end, Travis Kelce.

Kelce, Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid have all come out supporting their wide receiver, though pundits like Stephen A. Smith aren’t afraid to hate on them.

Gronkowski is siding with Smith regarding Toney, believing he’s continuously making errors that should’ve been corrected.

Making the Same Mistakes?

After 13 games this season, Toney’s caught just 27 of his 38 targets for 169 yards and a touchdown.

Toney came to Kansas City via a trade with the New York Giants ahead of the 2022 campaign.

They billed him as a versatile player, capable of returning kicks and running the ball effectively.

During an appearance with the “Up and Adams” program, Gronk had some strong words for all of Toney’s miscues.

“Kadarius Toney is an athletic freak,” he says.

“He can run routes like no other. He can return punts. But, when you’re making costly mistakes like that, in and out, I mean from the beginning of the season to the middle of the season, throughout your whole career, it’s kind of like you don’t love the game of football.”

Toney was integral to the Chiefs’ Super Bowl victory versus the Eagles last season but has made his share of mishaps in 2023.

Gronk says, “If you love the game of football, you go back to the locker room, you take accountability of it all, you go hit the practice field, and you make sure you look that ball in, catch it, and tuck it, and secure that ball well.”

Time for Toney to Prove His Worth

Toney has three games remaining to try and show the Chiefs staff and veteran players that he deserves a spot on this team.

His best statistical game in 2023 came in their first victory of the season over the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week Two.

On that occasion, he caught all five of his targets for 35 yards, including one for 17 yards, his second-longest receiving play of the year.

During the 2022 postseason, Toney didn’t get a lot of looks but was productive when called upon.

He made seven playoff catches for 50 yards, averaging 7.1 yards per catch and finding the end zone once.

Toney had one rushing play during the 2022 playoffs, which went for 14 yards.

In the Super Bowl last season, he returned a punt 65 yards in the fourth quarter, a record for the big game and caught a touchdown later in that quarter.

There’s still time for Toney to right his wrongs, but he’s got to step up soon.