Facing first-and-goal from the 1-yard line in the third quarter of Week 2, Patrick Mahomes handed off to Kenneth Walker III as the Chiefs tried to erase a three-point deficit to the Colts. Walker was stopped on first down, and after a second straight rush up the middle also failed, a third-down dive through a cluster of Colts defenders came up short. On fourth down, Mahomes faked another handoff, rolled right and threw a quick touchdown to Jalen Royals.
Despite the successful finish, Walker was visibly upset after coming up short on three attempts from the 1. The former Seahawk, who signed a three-year, $43 million deal this spring with $28.7 million guaranteed, had helped Seattle’s Super Bowl run last year with 161 yards from scrimmage in the title game, yet the misses still frustrated him. While he sat on the bench with more than a quarter left, head coach Andy Reid walked over and reassured him he wouldn’t give up on him — a moment Walker said helped him shake off the anger and return to his normal focus.
Reid has backed that sentiment with his play-calling. Through four weeks, Walker has 99 touches and leads the league with 621 yards from scrimmage (537 rushing), a 6.2 yards-per-carry average, and six total touchdowns — already more scores than he had in last season’s 17 regular-season games. Walker credits the opportunity and the work he’s done with Reid and offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy in OTAs and camp, while also praising his linemen and pass-catchers for creating chances.
The volume has played a big role in Walker’s breakout. His 99 touches in four games top his previous four-game high of 72 by a wide margin, and his per-game production has jumped from career norms to about 134.3 rushing yards and 155.3 yards from scrimmage in Kansas City’s wins over Denver, Indianapolis, Miami and Las Vegas. Walker also pointed to Reid’s creativity as a factor — even installing an old 1936 play called “Heisman,” which saw Mahomes and a backup line up in three-point stances and Walker take a toss around the formation into the end zone.
Walker’s heavier role has also become necessary because of injuries among the Chiefs’ receivers. In Kansas City’s opener Mahomes admitted he was still regaining timing after last season’s knee surgery, and Walker’s 191 yards and two scores helped ease that return. In the most recent game, Rashee Rice left early with a hamstring issue and Tyquan Thornton suffered a dislocated left ankle that is expected to require surgery and sideline him 12–16 weeks, according to ESPN. Walker responded with 179 yards and two touchdowns, including a 76-yard burst, and Mahomes credited him for keeping the offense moving on a day the quarterback completed just half his passes (15 of 30).
Sustainability is a question, though. Walker has a history of injuries — he missed six games in 2024 with a high-ankle sprain, calf and oblique issues, and missed two games each in 2022 and 2023. Last year he and Zach Charbonnet split the workload before Charbonnet’s playoff ACL tear; some in Seattle believed that shared work helped Walker stay healthy across a full season. The Chiefs could ease the burden by adding another dynamic playmaker.
That possibility has fueled speculation about a Tyreek Hill reunion. Hill’s agent, Drew Rosenhaus, told ESPN his client might sign with a team “over the next few days,” and The Athletic reported the Chiefs have expressed interest. Hill has been sidelined for more than a year after a severe left-knee dislocation that included multiple ligament tears, and his off-field situation has resurfaced amid recent civil-court testimony from his wife alleging assault and verbal abuse; Hill previously faced discipline in college and a 2019 NFL suspension tied to domestic violence allegations. On the field, Hill is an eight-time Pro Bowler and five-time first-team All-Pro with multiple 1,100+ yard seasons and a 1,799-yard campaign in 2023. Walker welcomed the idea of Hill returning, saying the speed and attention Hill commands would make defenses harder to scheme against and open up multiple dimensions for Kansas City’s offense.
Fan take: Walker’s hot start matters because it shows how much impact a running back can have when given workload and creative scheming in a modern pass-first era. If Kansas City keeps feeding him and adds another explosive receiver, the Chiefs could become even tougher to defend and might shift how other teams balance run-pass planning.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
