ST. JOSEPH, Mo. — The Chiefs still hold hope that wide receiver Kadarius Toney can return to the field in time for their season opener Sept. 7 against Detroit but there’s no plan to rush him back before he’s ready.
That was the message Wednesday from Mike Borgonzi, the club’s assistant general manager.
“We want to make sure he’s 100 percent,” Borgonzi said during a press conference Wednesday. “We want to make sure he’s there for the games. We know what he brings to the table, it’s his playmaking ability. So we’re not going to rush it.”
Toney underwent surgery July 25 to repair a torn meniscus in his knee. He suffered the injury just minutes into the team’s first full-squad workout of training camp on July 23.
The team has one more practice in St. Joseph on Thursday before breaking camp to return to Kansas City. The team has three more preseason practices next at the club’s training complex before they enter preparations for Week 1 against the Lions.
But Borgonzi stressed the Chiefs don’t feel the need to push Toney into action before he’s ready.
“I don’t think we have any expectations right now,” Borgonzi said. “We’re just gonna take it day by day and see how he is.”
Prior to the injury, Toney expected to enter the season as a starter alongside Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Skyy Moore. Justin Watson continues taking most of the reps with the first team with Toney out of the lineup. Regardless of Toney’s availability for Week 1, the Chiefs appear likey to keep as many as seven receivers entering the season along with Ritchie James, Rashee Rice and Justyn Watson.
The Chiefs have always maintained there’s a chance Toney could return for Week 1 but have made no guarantees. Head coach Andy Reid said the biggest challenge Toney will face is getting back into football shape after a lengthy layoff.
“There’s a chance, there’s a chance for the first game, but we’ll see,” Reid said on July 25. “We’ll just have to see how the recovery goes with him. But he’s bound and determined he’s going to be there for the first game, we’ll see how it goes.”
