New York Giants receiver Kadarius Toney showed elite potential during his rookie campaign in 2021. Toney only made 10 appearances, struggling with ankle issues throughout the campaign.
However, when he was on the football field, the Giants targeted him early and often as their top playmaker. Even when Kenny Golladay was fully healthy, Toney stole the show with his unbelievable agility and quick-twitch capabilities. Over 57 targets, Toney hauled in 39 receptions for a 68.4% catch rate. He posted 420 yards but failed to get in the end zone despite barely missing on a few occasions.
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The Giants need to keep Toney healthy somehow:
Coming out of Florida, Toney had dealt with a few injuries in the past, and his style of play unfortunately is a breeding ground for issues. Changing direction in the blink of an eye puts a lot of pressure on a player’s knees and ankles, but it does elevate the missed tackles forced metric. Last season, Toney generated 12 missed tackles forced, including five in one game against the New Orleans Saints in Week 4.
On Tuesday, quarterback Daniel Jones spoke about Toney’s contributions to the team and how electrifying he is with the ball in his hands.
“Yeah, I think it’s huge to have him. I think in the times he was out there last year you saw what he can do, how special he can be with the ball in his hands,” Jones told reporters on Tuesday. “I think that adds a lot to our offense to have him out there. We need him. I think he’s done a great job in meetings, done a great job picking it up and learning this system. But, yeah, he can be a special player and we’ll certainly need him.”
Jones went as far as to say that he needs them on the field, so maintaining his health is a top priority.
So far this summer, the New York Giants have kept him in a red jersey as he recovers from a small surgery on his ankle. Hopefully, that will help alleviate any future issues, allowing him to play to the best of his abilities without being hampered consistently.
If Kadarius can put together a full season of consistent health, he could be considered one of the best receivers in football, but his career hangs entirely on the fitness variable.