Nov 17, 2024; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA;  Cleveland Browns wide receiver Kadarius Toney (87) rushes against the New Orleans Saints during the first half at Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images

WR Kadarius Toney arrested, allegedly strangled woman

Veteran NFL wide receiver Kadarius Toney was arrested last week on allegations that he strangled a woman during a January dispute, according to multiple reports on Wednesday.

Toney, 26, was arrested and booked on Feb. 6 on counts of aggravated assault-strangulation and obstructing/harassing 911 calls, according to police records in Douglas County, Ga. His bond was set at $25,000 on each count, and he was not in custody on Feb. 7, according to county records.

Court documents viewed by media outlets said Toney squeezed the women’s neck “with enough force to cause her to be unable to breath, leave red marks on her neck and cause Petechial Hemorrhaging in her eyes” during a Jan. 14 incident in Douglasville, Ga.

Toney allegedly took her phone to keep her from calling authorities, TMZ reported.

Warrants were issued on Jan. 15.

Toney spent part of last season with the Cleveland Browns, who signed him on Sept. 9. He alternated between the practice squad and active roster. He had zero catches on one target as well as two rushing attempts for minus-4 yards in three games.

He was released on Dec. 10, two days after a loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers in which Toney was penalized 15 yards for taunting after a punt return and also muffed a punt.

Injuries and off-field issues have marred Toney’s career. The New York Giants selected him with the 20th overall pick of the 2021 NFL Draft out of Florida.

Toney has 82 career receptions for 760 yards and three touchdowns as well as 23 rushing attempts for 115 yards and one TD in 35 regular-season games (10 starts) for the Giants (2021-22), Kansas City Chiefs (2022-23) and Browns (2024).

He also has seven catches for 50 yards and one touchdown in three playoff games for the Super Bowl champion Chiefs in 2022. Kansas City released him on Aug. 27, 2024.

–Field Level Media

Feb 5, 2025; New Orleans, LA, USA; Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid speaks in a press conference ahead of Super Bowl LIX at New Orleans Marriott. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Andy Reid: Chiefs practice like ‘normal’ Wednesday in regular season

NEW ORLEANS — Under a mostly sunny sky at Tulane’s Yulman Stadium, the Kansas City Chiefs went through a nearly 90-minute practice session Wednesday afternoon ahead of their matchup with the Philadelphia Eagles for Super Bowl LIX.

It was a light but spirited session for the Chiefs, who had perfect practice attendance. The starting offense and defense each ran 30 plays against the scout team units, with 10-minute special teams segments mixed in.

The quarterbacks, specialists and linebacker Nick Bolton — who wears the “green dot” to communicate play calls to the defense — were the only players wearing helmets Wednesday. The rest of the Chiefs practiced without pads or helmets. Coach Andy Reid likened the practice to a normal Wednesday session during the regular season.

The focus for Wednesday’s practice was “assignments,” Reid said, with the intention being to ramp up practice as the week progresses.

“It’s just getting one more rep at it, make sure you’ve got all the bases covered,” Reid said. “You kind of start from scratch when you get out here and go back through everything. And if you’ve got little tweaks, you’ve got to make here or there, or additions, you get them done.”

Quarterback Patrick Mahomes was sharp, with only four of his pass attempts during full team periods hitting the ground — two of which were dropped. Tight end Payton Hendershot made the most impressive catch of the session with a leaping, twisting grab over the middle of the field.

But the most notable play of the day may have belonged to punter Matt Araiza, who kicked what appeared to be an 80-yard punt with the wind at his back. The kick caught some of his teammates off guard, with quarterbacks and receivers scrambling to get out of the way as they were working drills at the far end of the field.

Wide receiver Skyy Moore (abdomen) was the only Kansas City player limited in practice on Wednesday. Mahommes (ankle) and offensive tackle Jawaan Taylor (knee) was full participants.

Reid admired the practice setup on Tulane’s campus in Uptown New Orleans. Yulman Stadium features a natural grass turf, which Reid said had some cushion that he appreciated.

“They did a phenomenal job with this,” Reid said. “We appreciate that. And the people here at Tulane have been great, they rolled out the red carpets for us. It’s a good facility, all good there.”

An eclectic mix of music played as the team practiced. The first song on the practice playlist was “Not Like Us” by Kendrick Lamar, who will perform during the halftime break Sunday. That was immediately followed by “Wipe Me Down” by Louisiana rappers Foxx, Webbie and Lil Boosie.

–Field Level Media, special from Pro Football Writers of America

Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen throws a pass, warming up before the Buffalo Bills divisional game against the Baltimore Ravens at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park on Jan. 19, 2025.

Bills seek revenge in AFC Championship rematch vs. Chiefs

The Buffalo Bills have patiently been waiting four years to get revenge against the Kansas City Chiefs.

Kansas City will host Buffalo in the AFC Championship Game on Sunday night in a rematch of a 2021 meeting that the Chiefs won 38-24 to reach the Super Bowl.

It was a different time back then. Only 17,000 fans were allowed into Arrowhead Stadium because of pandemic-related health and safety measures, and most of that limited crowd was naturally pro-Kansas City.

Bills coach Sean McDermott believes Buffalo will have more support this time around.

“It’s huge,” McDermott said of having Bills fans in enemy territory. “We’ve gone on the road, we’ve played at home — our fans travel everywhere and anywhere that we play. So, we’ve got the best fans in the NFL. I think that the connection with our fan base, as I’ve said multiple times over, is unique in the NFL.”

Still, it’s going to take a lot more than having some rowdy fans in the building to beat the Chiefs, who have won eight straight playoff games. Only the New England Patriots (10 wins in a row from 2001-05) and the Green Bay Packers (nine in a row from 1961-68) have been able to string more victories together in the postseason.

A win on Sunday would send Kansas City to the Super Bowl for the third consecutive year, and considering the Chiefs have won the past two, quarterback Patrick Mahomes is aware of the target that he and his teammates have on their backs.

“You have to combat,” Mahomes said. “You have to look at your weaknesses and try to make those strengths, and then your strengths, make them even better, because you know that (the Bills are) gonna go out there and try to take away those things.

“It’s a great football team. Like I said, great players, well-coached and we know it’s gonna take our best in order to find a way to get a win.”

Kansas City and Buffalo have faced off six times since colliding in the 2021 AFC Championship Game, with two of those meetings in the postseason. The Chiefs won both of the divisional-round matchups, most recently taking out the Bills with a 27-24 victory in last season’s playoffs.

However, when the teams last met, Buffalo topped Kansas City 30-21 in Week 11 of this season.

McDermott doesn’t necessarily think the win will help the Bills come Sunday, though.

“That game stands alone, as this game will,” he said. “As you saw with our experience last week (against the Baltimore Ravens), these games are individual of each other.”

Buffalo edged the Ravens 27-25 to set up the date with Kansas City, which got past the Houston Texans 23-14.

Bills safety Taylor Rapp sustained a hip injury against Baltimore and wouldn’t have practiced on Wednesday anyway, but Buffalo only held a walkthrough. Rapp is also dealing with a back issue. Offensive tackle Dion Dawkins (illness) would have also been held out of practice, while linebacker Matt Milano (biceps/hamstring) was listed as limited.

Everyone on the Chiefs had the green light at their practice on Wednesday, including Mahomes, who popped up on the injury report because of his ankle. He suffered a high-ankle sprain in Week 15 but didn’t miss any time and was a full participant in Wednesday’s practice.

–Field Level Media

Dec 21, 2024; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco (10) runs the ball against Houston Texans linebacker Henry To'oTo'o (39) during the first half at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images

Chiefs RB Isiah Pacheco (rib) out vs. Broncos, resting until playoffs

Kansas City will rest running back Isiah Pacheco at practice this week and has ruled him out for the regular-season finale Sunday at Denver because of a rib injury, with Chiefs coach Andy Reid saying that he will be ready for the postseason.

“He’ll be available playoff-wise. He is tender,” Reid said Monday. “I’ll probably hold him back this week in practice just a bit so he can be fresh and ready to go.”

Pacheco, 25, has played in only seven games (six starts) this season and has 83 carries for 310 yards and one touchdown, along with 12 receptions for 79 yards. The starting running back sustained a broken right fibula in his team’s victory over the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 2.

He played in Kansas City’s win over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Christmas Day and sustained the rib injury.

Kansas City selected Pacheco in the seventh round of the 2022 NFL Draft. He has rushed for 2,075 yards and 13 TDs on 458 attempts and caught 69 passes for 453 yards and two TDs in 38 games (30 starts).

Reid also said that left tackle D.J. Humphries is making steady progress from his hamstring injury. The Chiefs signed Humphries, a 2021 Pro Bowl selection with Arizona, on Nov. 23, but he has played in only one game against the Los Angeles Chargers on Dec. 8.

“He’s doing good,” Reid said. “I can’t make you any promise. I want to get him out to practice and kind of see where we’re at. But he is doing good in his rehab part. That’s different than being on the field. So, I’d like to just see how he does there.”

The Chiefs (15-1) can afford to rest players as they have clinched the No. 1 overall seed and a first-round bye in the AFC playoffs, while the Broncos (9-7) are fighting for the last wild-card berth.

–Field Level Media

Nov 24, 2024; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones (95) during the first quarter against the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images

Chiefs DT Chris Jones, RT Jawaan Taylor questionable

The Kansas City Chiefs have listed defensive tackle Chris Jones and right tackle Jawaan Taylor as questionable for Wednesday’s game at Pittsburgh.

Jones, 30, did not practice Sunday or Monday but was limited on Tuesday with a calf injury. The five-time Pro Bowl selection has five sacks, 20 quarterback hits and 37 tackles in 15 starts this season, his ninth with the Chiefs.

Taylor, 27, has been limited in practice all week with a knee injury. Including 15 starts this season, he has started all 98 games since being drafted in the second round by the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2019.

Also Tuesday, the Chiefs (14-1) ruled out left tackle D.J. Humphries (hamstring) and nickelback Chamarri Conner (concussion). Kansas City can clinch the AFC’s No. 1 playoff seed with a win against the Steelers (10-5).

–Field Level Media

Jul 26, 2024; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Marquise “Hollywood”  Brown (5) walks down the hill from the locker room to the fields during training camp at Missouri Western State University. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images

Report: Chiefs WR Hollywood Brown to make season debut

Wide receiver Marquise “Hollywood” Brown reportedly will make his Kansas City Chiefs debut on Saturday, barring any setbacks.

ESPN reported Thursday that the Chiefs (13-1) are planning to activate Brown ahead of their home game against the Houston Texans (9-5).

Kansas City opened Brown’s 21-day practice window last Friday. He has been on injured reserve since Sept. 13 with a sternoclavicular joint injury sustained in the preseason opener.

Brown, 27, signed a one-year, $7 million contract with the Chiefs in March after three seasons with the Baltimore Ravens (2019-21) and two seasons with the Arizona Cardinals (2022-23).

Brown has 313 catches for 3,644 yards and 28 touchdowns in 72 career games (65 starts). He posted a 1,000-yard season with the Ravens in 2021.

The Chiefs opened up a roster spot for Brown earlier this week when they released veteran running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire.

–Field Level Media

Oct 27, 2024; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Kansas City Chiefs place kicker Harrison Butker (7) kicks a field goal against the Las Vegas Raiders during the fourth quarter at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images

Chiefs OT D.J. Humphries (hamstring) sits; Harrison Butker returns

New Kansas City Chiefs left tackle D.J. Humphries will miss practice on Wednesday while the team welcomed the return of kicker Harrison Butker after sitting out a month following knee surgery.

Humphries, 30, injured his hamstring in his first game with the Chiefs, a 19-17 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday night.

“We’re just going to take it day by day and see how he does,” coach Andy Reid said of Humphries, who played 60 offensive snaps.

The Chiefs (12-1) signed the Pro Bowl tackle on Nov. 23 after Humphries worked his way back from a torn ACL sustained last season while playing with the Arizona Cardinals.

Humphries started 15 games last season and all 98 in which he’s played since the Cardinals selected him with the 24th overall pick of the 2015 NFL Draft. He was released in March.

Butker, 29, has not played since the Chiefs’ 16-14 home win over the Denver Broncos on Nov. 10. He had surgery on his left knee and went on injured reserve.

“We’re going to see how he does. He has a chance,” Reid said of Butker playing in Sunday’s road game against the Cleveland Browns.

Butker is 18 of 20 on field-goal attempts (long of 53) and 21 of 22 on extra-point attempts this season. He has won three Super Bowl titles with Kansas City.

The Chiefs replaced Butker with rookie Spencer Shrader, then he went on injured reserve due to a right hamstring injury. Kicker Matthew Wright stepped in for Shrader and made all four field-goal attempts against the Chargers, including the game-winning 31-yarder off the left upright as time expired.

–Field Level Media

Oct 20, 2024; Santa Clara, California, USA; /Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Mecole Hardman (17) runs for a touchdown against the San Francisco 49ers in the fourth quarter at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images

Chiefs place WR Mecole Hardman (knee) on IR

The Kansas City Chiefs placed wide receiver Mecole Hardman on injured reserve Saturday with a knee injury.

Chiefs head coach Andy Reid told reporters Friday that Hardman suffered the injury before the team’s on-field work when his “knee locked up on him.”

The earliest Hardman can return is Week 18 against the host Denver Broncos.

Hardman, 26, signed a one-year deal with the Chiefs in June, just months after he caught the game-winning touchdown in Kansas City’s 25-22 overtime victory against the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl LVIII.

A three-time Super Bowl champion, Hardman has 12 catches for 90 yards as well as five rushes for 62 yards and a touchdown this season. He also has 20 punt returns and five kick returns.

Hardman has 178 receptions for 2,302 yards and 16 touchdowns in 80 career games (28 starts) since being picked by the Chiefs in the second round of the 2019 NFL Draft. He signed as a free agent with the New York Jets to start the 2023 season before being traded back to the Chiefs.

In a corresponding move, the Chiefs signed receiver Nikko Remigio off the practice squad, where he has spent the entire season after not making the 53-man roster in training camp.

The Chiefs (11-1) are set for a divisional matchup Sunday night against the visiting Los Angeles Chargers (8-4).

–Field Level Media

Nov 24, 2024; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Kansas City Chiefs place kicker Spencer Shrader (40) kicks a field goal during the first quarter against the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images

Chiefs place K Spencer Shrader (hamstring) on IR

The Kansas City Chiefs placed rookie kicker Spencer Shrader on injured reserve due to a right hamstring injury and signed kicker Matthew Wright to the active roster from the practice squad on Wednesday.

Shrader, who will have to miss at least four games, was injured early last week and missed the Chiefs’ 19-17 home win over the Las Vegas Raiders last Friday.

He was filling in for starting kicker Harrison Butker, who went on injured reserve with a knee injury on Nov. 14 and is eligible to return after this Sunday’s game against the Los Angeles Chargers.

Shrader, 25, played in two games for the Chiefs and made all three field-goal attempts with a long of 41 yards and all six extra-point attempts. He also appeared in one game apiece for the Indianapolis Colts and New York Jets this season.

Wright, 28, made his debut for the Chiefs against the Raiders and made 4 of 5 field-goal attempts with a long of 42 yards, and 1-for-1 on extra points. He played in one game for the San Francisco 49ers on Oct. 10 and went 3-for-3 on field goals and 3-for-3 on extra points in a 36-24 win at the Seattle Seahawks.

In parts of five NFL seasons with five different teams (and two stints with Kansas City), Wright is 47-for-55 (85.5 percent) on field goals with a long of 59, and 39-for-41 (95.1 percent) on extra points in 26 regular-season games.

–Field Level Media

Jan 21, 2024; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Buffalo Bills running back James Cook (4) rushes the ball against Kansas City Chiefs defensive end Charles Omenihu (90) in the first half of the 2024 AFC divisional round game at Highmark Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-Imagn Images

Chiefs activate RB Isiah Pacheco, DE Charles Omenihu from IR

The Kansas City Chiefs activated running back Isiah Pacheco and defensive end Charles Omenihu off injured reserve on Thursday ahead of Friday’s game against the Las Vegas Raiders.

Pacheco, Kansas City’s starting running back, sustained a broken fibula is his team’s victory over the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 2.

Omenihu, a defensive lineman, has yet to make his season debut. He has been recovering from a torn ACL sustained in last season’s AFC Championship Game victory against the Baltimore Ravens.

The Chiefs (10-1) also ruled out rookie kicker Spencer Shrader (right hamstring) and listed linebacker Cam Jones (illness) as questionable after he missed practice Tuesday and Wednesday but was a full participant Thursday.

Game-day elevations were kicker Matthew Wright and tight end Anthony Firkser.

Pacheco, 25, rushed for 135 yards with a touchdown and caught seven passes for 54 yards in two games before the injury. He has accumulated 2,328 yards from scrimmage with 15 touchdowns in 33 games (26 starts) since Kansas City drafted him in the seventh round in 2022.

Omenihu, 27, had seven sacks in 11 games (one start) in his first season with the Chiefs in 2023. He has 18.5 sacks in 72 career games (11 starts) with the Houston Texans (2019-21), San Francisco 49ers (2021-22) and Kansas City. He was a fifth-round pick by Houston in 2019.

Shrader, 25, did not practice this week. Formerly with the Indianapolis Colts and New York Jets this season, he has played in two games for the Chiefs as a replacement for injured starter Harrison Butker (knee), who is on IR, and was 3-for-3 on field-goal attempts and 6-for-6 on extra-point attempts.

–Field Level Media