Why Kenneth Walker’s Absence Is a Huge Loss for Kansas City in Week 10

How does the absence of the best running back in the NFL affect the Kansas City Chiefs‘ offense on Sunday? Kenneth Walker is leading the NFL in rushing yards per game with 109 and has been the driving force behind the Chiefs’ offense this year. Head coach Andy Reid told reporters on Friday that Walker would be missing Sunday’s contest against the Atlanta Falcons with groin tightness. Walker isn’t just any other running back for for the Chiefs, and his absence could be catastrophic. 

Kenneth Walker by the Numbers

Walker currently sits at 872 yards on the ground and another 172 yards through the air, about 33% of the Chiefs’ total offense this year. He’s also responsible for 11 of their 24 touchdowns this year. That is massive production and shows how valuable Walker is to the Chiefs. 

The talented running back has over 100 yards and a touchdown in five of eight games this year. If you look at the three games he didn’t record over 100 yards, it paints a very interesting story. The Chiefs are 1-2 in those games, with their one win coming against the 1-7 Miami Dolphins. This includes a 20-3 loss to the Seattle Seahawks back in October, a game that was statistically one of the worst of Patrick Mahomes’ career. 

Now, obviously, the Chiefs still have Mahomes and an improved passing game with the addition of Josh Downs, but we’ve seen the effect that a bad running game from Walker has on this offense. What the total absence of Walker does remains to be seen. 

What Does This Mean for the Rest of the Chiefs Offense?

Walker’s absence obviously gives a massive boost to backup rookie running back Emmett Johnson, who will be getting his first start of the 2026 season. Johnson hasn’t had double-digit carries yet this year, but has shown his teeth in the receiving game. In his senior year at Nebraska in 2025, he collected over 1,800 yards from scrimmage and scored 15 touchdowns. The talent is there, just not the chances at the NFL level yet. 

Mahomes has been solid this year, but hasn’t exactly been spectacular. The Chiefs have been leaning heavily on their running game and have dealt with a lot of injuries at the receiver position. Mahomes has been efficient, but isn’t really breaking games open as he did historically. In 2026, he’s passed for under 200 yards as many times as he has over 300, but has consistently done just enough in the clutch for the Chiefs to be 6-2. 

Walker’s absence should potentially lead to more passing plays for the Chiefs’ offense, and the whole group could be in line for an increased workload. Downs will be making his first start on Sunday and is expected to step into the WR1 role, but his chemistry with Mahomes remains to be seen. Additionally, Xavier Worthy, Rashee Rice, and Travis Kelce could also see more targets. 

There is also a big question mark for the Chiefs after Johnson. Their third- and fourth-string running backs are both hurt, and it would be Nate Carter, just elevated from the practice squad, who would step in if anything were to happen to Johnson on Sunday. Kansas City’s running back depth is a major concern. 

Overall, Johnson is the biggest benefactor, but we could see the Chiefs be forced into more passing plays if Johnson can’t settle into the lead role. It will be interesting to see if Mahomes can step up in Walker’s absence or if he’ll struggle without the star running back taking the heat off of the passing game. 

How Does Walker’s Absence Affect This Game?

The Falcons enter Sunday’s game as one of the most confusing teams in football. In Weeks 2-3, they flipped from a 34-3 loss to the Carolina Panthers to a 35-14 win over the Green Bay Packers. In late October, they backed up a 29-20 upset victory over the 6-0 San Francisco 49ers with a 16-0 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Basically, they don’t make sense, and the Falcons team you get changes week to week. 

Their offense is full of stars, including arguably the best running back in the NFL, Bijan Robinson, and top-10 wide receiver Drake London. Both of those players have shown the ability to break games wide open and will be Chiefs’ defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo’s main focus this week. 

The Chiefs are middle of the pack in rushing defense and a top-7 unit in passing yards per game. They’re also the number three-ranked defensive team in points allowed per game. Atlanta needs to be on their A-game offensively against Spagnuolo, or he’s more than capable of being the difference-maker in a low-scoring game. 

If Atlanta can build a lead and lean on Robinson’s talent, it could be difficult for Kansas City to maintain consistency. Additionally, missing your running back makes it harder for the Chiefs to bleed out the clock if they do have the lead and makes them a much less balanced offense. If Johnson can step into the opening, the Chiefs should still be able to handle Atlanta with ease. 

How Concerning Is This For Kansas City’s Playoff Aspirations?

Beating Atlanta isn’t essential for the Chiefs; it’s a non-conference game, but a loss would definitely still hurt. Kansas City is a half game back of the division lead and is in a very tight AFC playoff race between four or five other teams. Any wins at this stage are important, and Atlanta feels like a potential must-win game with the difficult games left on the Chiefs’ schedule. 

Reid said on Friday that the injury to Kenneth Walker wasn’t believed to be serious and it was more out of an excess of caution that he was ruled out. Next week is the 3-6 Cardinals, but the Chiefs then play the Buffalo Bills, Los Angeles Rams, Cincinnati Bengals, New England Patriots and San Francisco 49ers over the five weeks that follow. Missing Walker for any of those games would be a huge blow. 

Even if the groin injury is considered mild, it’s a difficult injury to shake, especially for a running back. Walker is known for his acceleration, cutting, and explosiveness, all of which are heavily affected by a groin injury. It’s the smart move to prioritize Walker’s health right now, and Kansas City is hoping it doesn’t backfire in the meantime. They need to keep their fingers crossed this proves to be just a one- or two-week absence for the stud runner. 

The Last Word

The Chiefs will be fine regardless of Sunday’s result, but it will be interesting to see how their offense looks without Walker. There has been a lot of talk about Mahomes’ regression over the last few years, and this is a good prove-it game for the veteran. If they struggle, Kansas City needs to hope this is only a one-week absence for Walker and not something that strings into the playoffs. One bad game without your star isn’t the end of the world, but some big games are coming down the pipe.

Main Image: Denny Medley-Imagn Images