KC Chiefs Super Bowl LVIII Updates on Kadarius Toney, Joe Thuney, Jerick McKinnon
The Kansas City Chiefs are past Super Bowl LVIII Opening Night, but their long week of media continues ahead of Sunday's game against the San Francisco 49ers.
Several players spoke on Tuesday in Las Vegas, as well as head coach Andy Reid. With just a handful of days until the weekend's marquee matchup, Kansas City still has some decisions to make on who will play.
Reid provided brief updates on three players — wide receiver Kadarius Toney, running back Jerick McKinnon and left guard Joe Thuney — from the team hotel.
Reid undecided on Kadarius Toney for Super Bowl LVIII
Toney, who is no longer on the injury report, is now over a week removed from an expletive-filled Instagram Live rant in which he appeared to accuse the team of falsifying his injury designations. The third-year wideout attempted to clarify the situation on Monday night, although things remain clouded. Toney hasn't played since Week 15 against the New England Patriots, remaining inactive through the end of the regular season and into the AFC playoffs. Despite Toney's participation in recent practices, Reid wouldn't commit to playing the 25-year-old on Sunday.
"We'll see how that goes," Reid said. "He's been practicing. We'll just see whether he's up or not."
Jerick McKinnon and Joe Thuney's chances not looking great
Kansas City opened the 21-day practice window for McKinnon last weekend, but he has yet to return to the field. Reid confirmed on Tuesday that his veteran halfback hasn't gotten any work in. On Monday morning, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported that McKinnon had a "very real" chance to play in the Super Bowl despite undergoing surgery in early January. According to Reid, however, those chances may not be as high as Rapoport originally indicated.
"Jerick is not practicing," Reid said. "I'd tell you it's slim for him to be out there."
Elsewhere, Thuney remains out of practice with a pectoral ailment suffered in the Divisional Round. Missing practice leading up to the AFC title game, the All-Pro hasn't made his official return yet either. On Monday night, Thuney described his recovery as a "day-by-day" process and didn't provide a solid indication of which direction his week was heading in. Reid, doubling down on a previous sentiment, hinted at it being more of a functionality question than a pain tolerance one.
"Yeah, Nate (Taylor), it's just strength," Reid said. "Making sure he's in a position where he doesn't get hurt worse than what he's got. That's what we look at."
Thuney, like McKinnon, seems to be facing an uphill battle to play in Super Bowl LVIII.
"We'll see," Reid said. "I mean, I think it's a long shot."
