Chiefs Weighing Workload Split After Kenneth Walker's Hot Start
The short version
- Chiefs are 2-0 after beating Denver 31-10 and Indianapolis 33-30 in overtime
- Kenneth Walker III has 56 touches, 369 total yards and two touchdowns in two games
- Walker is second in the NFL in rushing attempts and says he won't slow down
- Rookie Emmett Johnson has 103 yards on 14 touches; Andy Reid says he'll get more snaps
- Week 3: Chiefs at Miami Dolphins, Sunday, Sept. 27, 1:00 PM EDT on CBS
Kenneth Walker III has 369 yards and two touchdowns through two games, and Kansas City must decide how much to lean on him with rookie Emmett Johnson emerging.
The Kansas City Chiefs are 2-0 to open the 2026 NFL season, a strong turnaround from a disappointing 2025 campaign. The team opened with a 31-10 win over the Denver Broncos and then edged the Indianapolis Colts 33-30 in overtime in Week 2.
A major factor in the fast start has been free-agent addition Kenneth Walker III, who was brought in to add explosiveness to the ground game. He has delivered immediately, recording over 100 rushing yards in each of his first two games.
Walker, described in the report as the reigning Super Bowl MVP, has logged 56 touches for 369 total yards and two touchdowns across the two contests. He ranks second in the NFL in rushing attempts and stands among the league's most productive backs so far.
The central question in Kansas City is whether that workload can hold up over a 17-game season. Walker himself has no intention of easing off. According to Charles Goldman of AtoZ Sports, Walker plans to make the most of every opportunity the Chiefs hand him.
The Chiefs do have options to keep him fresh, most notably rookie Emmett Johnson. Selected in the fifth round of the 2026 NFL Draft, Johnson has produced 103 total yards on 14 touches through two games and has shown he can contribute as both a runner and a receiver.
Head coach Andy Reid, speaking on Sports Radio 810, signaled a growing role for the rookie. "He wants the ball every play. Ken does, and he's not asking to be relieved or anything else, but I think as it goes on, you get a nice balance with those two," Reid said.
Reid's comments suggest Johnson will see more snaps going forward, though not necessarily at Walker's expense. The likely approach is a distribution of carries designed to keep both backs healthy and effective deep into the season.
Kansas City travels to face the Miami Dolphins in Week 3 on Sunday, September 27 at 1:00 PM EDT at Hard Rock Stadium, with the game airing on CBS.
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