Andy Reid – Kadarius Toney didn’t check with official before flag

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Andy Reid said the Kansas City Chiefs won't give up on wide receiver Kadarius Toney even after he made a costly mistake late in the fourth quarter of Sunday's loss to the Kansas City Bills. Buffalo.

“What I know is he’s playing,” the Chiefs coach said Monday of Toney. “He plays when he has the ball in his hands and that's important. He's a young man. He doesn't have… a lot of experience, but I think he's improving every week.

“I don't see it as a negative. I also look at the things he produced on.”

Toney was penalized for lining up offside on a play when the Chiefs scored what would have been the go-ahead touchdown with less than two minutes remaining. Toney took a cross from Travis Kelce, who had caught a pass from Patrick Mahomes, and completed what would have been a 49-yard touchdown.

Instead, the Chiefs ultimately turned the ball over on downs and lost 20-17, their fourth loss in the last six games.

When asked what his coaching advice would be to Toney this week, Reid replied: “Normally he looks over to the sideline and just gets an OK. [from the official]. On this one, he just didn't do it. Just make sure you check, make sure you check with the guy on the side just to see if you're lined up… He was 2 inches or an inch away from being legal.

Toney also cost the Chiefs in their Week 1 loss to the Detroit Lions. He deflected an easily caught Mahomes pass to a defender, who returned it for a touchdown. The Chiefs ended up losing by one point.

Toney's biggest play for the Chiefs this season was 18 yards. He made two big plays in the fourth quarter of last season's Super Bowl, scoring a touchdown and returning a punt 65 yards to set up another.

Reid after the game said the penalty call was an “embarrassment” for the NFL because players like Toney are usually cautioned first for lining up offside before being penalized. Reid said Monday that he didn't blame the officials for the loss, but was disappointed they didn't communicate with him the way he expected them to.

“I think I have a good relationship with the officials and I haven't had any communication,” Reid said. “That’s really where I come from. I was disappointed in that part.

Reid also defended Mahomes, who yelled at officials at the end of the game and questioned the timing of the call during his postgame press conference.

“We put so much time and effort into it, both physically and mentally,” Reid said Monday. “For it to come down to something like this, it ends up being frustration… This type of situation is too serious.” for really good football teams going against each other and you only have a minute and a half or a minute and 50 seconds left, all of a sudden you're there and you make a big play. I think n No matter who would say it's a bit frustrating.

“We need to line up, right? Yes, we do. We need to take care of it and not put it in the hands of the officials.”