The Washington Commanders released defensive end Shaka Toney four days after the National Football League reinstated him. In April 2023, he received an indefinite suspension for violating the league’s anti-gambling policy.

The league reinstated him on April 18, 2024, almost a year after receiving the suspension. However, he is now a free agent after the Commanders’ latest transaction. Washington selected Toney in the seventh round of the 2021 NFL Draft and signed him to a four-year, $3.5 million rookie-scale contract.

Before joining the Commanders, Toney was a First Team All-Big Ten member for the Penn State Nittany Lions after finishing the 2020 season with 31 tackles, five sacks, a pass deflection, and a forced fumble.

Toney played ten games for Washington during his rookie season, tallying 1.5 sacks, eight tackles, and three quarterback hits. The following year, he played 16 games for the Commanders but did not start any games.

Toney was one of five players recently reinstated by the league after being proven to be gambling on games. However, he was the only one retained by his team after the suspension. Quintez Cephus, C.J. Moore, and Demetrius Taylor previously played for the Detroit Lions, while Rashod Berry suited up for the Indianapolis Colts.

-Lance Fernandez