All systems apparently go for NY Giants rookie Kadarius Toney
NY Giants rookie Kadarius Toney could play a significant role in his first NFL game Sunday, despite being limited throughout training camp and the preseason
Sometimes, it’s best to skip the trailer and go right to the main feature.
That seems to be the game plan for NY Giants rookie wide receiver Kadarius Toney, who after not playing a single snap during the preseason appears all systems go to take the field in Sunday’s regular season opener against the Denver Broncos, and play a significant role.
“I’m excited,” Toney told reporters following Wednesday’s practice. “I’m ready to really play.”
Really play could mean Toney sees time on special teams, maybe even plays meaningful snaps on offense, after a bout with COVID-19 got his training camp off on the wrong foot and an injury kept him off the field for the entire exhibition slate.
"“I can impact it in a lot of ways, depending on what they exactly scheme up and do,” Toney said, of his role this week. “But really just looking forward to going out there and just impacting as much as I can as soon as I can.”"
Why Kadarius Toney could prove pivotal to NY Giants’ offense
Drafting Toney, who ran the 40-yard dash in 4.39 seconds, was part of a multi-pronged approach to surround third-year quarterback Daniel Jones with as many weapons as possible this season in order to evaluate if he can make the leap to becoming one of the NFL’s elite passers. Despite the fact that Toney and Jones were rarely on the field together this spring and summer, there’s a chance that the former Florida Gator gets thrown into the deep end of the pool immediately.
After being so limited this summer, Toney has the chance to finally scratch that itch of playing meaningful games, after being chosen with the No. 20 overall pick in this spring’s NFL Draft.
"“I wake up with the itch to play every day,” Toney said. “It’s not more of what I’m doing or what I’m not doing. I wake up itching every day just because I love the game. That’s kind of my approach.”"
Matt Lombardo is FanSided’s National NFL Insider and writes Between The Hash Marks each Wednesday. Email Matt: Matt.Lombardo@FanSided.com.