The Chiefs declined Thursday to exercise the fifth-year option for the 2025 season on the contract of wide receiver Kadarius Toney, a source told Adam Teicher of ESPN, giving him one more season remaining on the deal he signed with the New York Giants as a first-round draft pick in 2021.

Toney was traded to the Chiefs the next year.

Both general manager Brett Veach and coach Andy Reid recently indicated Toney was in the Chiefs' plans this season.

"I don't think we ever stopped believing in him,'' Veach said shortly before the draft. "I think people around the building like him. It's the injury bug. Hopefully, he gets some luck on his side and can stay healthy and can be the player that he was at Florida and the player that we've seen in spurts here. I'm just hoping he has a good offseason and has a little luck on his side and can stay healthy.''

With the Chiefs counting on him for big production, Toney had a disappointing 2023 season. He tore his meniscus fielding kicks at the start of the first practice of training camp, leading him to miss the remainder of camp.

He had surgery and returned for the season opener, but his deflection of a catchable pass to a defender who returned it for a touchdown was a key play in a one-point loss to the Detroit Lions.

Injuries continued for Toney the remainder of the season. The Chiefs listed him on their weekly injury report for 19 of their 21 games, counting the postseason.

Toney played in 13 games but had just 27 catches for 169 yards and a touchdown.

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