Following the conclusion of his one-year gambling suspension by the National Football League, the Washington Commanders cut Defensive End Shaka Toney on Monday morning. Toney, along with four other players, was suspended on April 21, 2023, for violating the league’s policy on gambling.
Defensive End Rashod Berry, Wide Receiver Quintez Cephus, Safety C.J. Moore, and Defensive Tackle Demetrius Taylor were the other players suspended along with Toney in April of last year.
The NFL’s policy on gambling states that no NFL team personnel can place bets while at team facilities or team hotels and are prohibited from placing wagers through an intermediary.
Will Toney play in the NFL in 2024?
Shaka Toney Career Summary
The #Commanders have released DE Shaka Toney, who was just reinstated from a gambling suspension.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 22, 2024
Toney was drafted by the Washington Commanders in the seventh round of the 2021 NFL Draft out of Penn State. He had 16 total tackles in 26 career games for the Commanders in addition to 1.5 career sacks.
The former Nittany Lion did not have the type of production that led to Washington wanting to keep him on the team following a year away from the sport.
Crucial Week Upcoming In The ‘Nation’s Capital’
The Washington Commanders parted ways with Head Coach Ron Rivera following the conclusion of the 2023-2024 NFL season. They hired Head Coach Dan Quinn and Adam Peters to be the team’s General Manager. Washington is just three days away from an extremely critical draft where they are expected to drat what they hope is their franchise quarterback.
The Commanders have the No. 2 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. Peters addressed the media on Saturday and was coy about the team’s draft strategy:
“I think with the optionality we have in all those picks, anything’s in consideration. Like we’ve said before, we’re going to do what’s best for this organization.”
Washington is reportedly targeting either Heisman Trophy-winning LSU Quarterback Jayden Daniels or North Carolina Quarterback Drake Maye with the second overall pick. Regardless of what direction Washington goes in Thursday’s draft, it will shape their team for years to come.
Washington Commanders Looking To Bounce Back From Disappointing 2023
Washington finished last in the NFC East last season with a record of 3-14. The team has not finished above .500 since 2016, but the duo of Peters and Quinn will look to turn around the team quickly. The Washington Commanders did very little well last season; hence why they have such a high pick in this year’s draft.
The team was bottom-10 in total offense last season and the eighth-lowest scoring team last season at 19.4 points per game. The Commanders defense, a specialty of both Rivera and Quinn, was the worst in the league last season by a variety of metrics. The defense surrendered a league-worst 388 yards per game and allowed over 30 points per game.
To add insult to injury, the Washington Commanders had a league-worst -14 turnover differential last season.
The roster has been remade this season with veteran Linebacker Bobby Wagner, former No. 2 overall pick Quarterback Marcus Mariota, and star Running Back Austin Ekeler as the marquee acquisitions. Mariota was presumably signed to provide a veteran presence to the quarterback room and to mentor the second overall pick.
The Washington Commanders have upgraded the roster substantially this NFL Offseason, and the one glaring hole on their roster can be filled in a little more than 72 hours.
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