Facing a first-and-goal at the 1-yard line in Week 2, Patrick Mahomes handed the ball to Kenneth Walker four times without success. The Kansas City Chiefs trailed the Indianapolis Colts by three points in the third quarter, and despite Walker’s repeated attempts to score, the Chiefs opted for a play-action pass on fourth down. Mahomes rolled right and connected with Jalen Royals in the end zone to take the lead, leaving Walker visibly frustrated.
Walker, who signed a three-year, $43 million deal with $28.7 million guaranteed this spring after leaving the Seattle Seahawks, was unsettled by failing to punch in the touchdown despite his league-leading performance. Head coach Andy Reid noticed. Midway through the game, Reid approached Walker on the bench and told him, “I'm not ever going to give up on you,” Walker recalled in a recent Zoom interview with Yahoo Sports, conducted in partnership with Orgain organic plant protein powder. Reid’s words helped Walker push past his frustration and focus on the next play.
The Chiefs’ investment in Walker is paying off. Over the first four weeks, he has racked up 99 touches for a league-best 621 yards from scrimmage and six touchdowns, already surpassing the five he scored in 17 games last season. His 537 rushing yards and 6.2 yards per carry lead all NFL running backs.
Walker credits his success to opportunity and preparation. “I had a lot of opportunities in the Super Bowl,” he said, referring to his 161 yards from scrimmage that earned him Super Bowl MVP honors with Seattle. “Coach Reid and [offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy], they've been working with me while working with the team, all OTAs and training camp. So we've been doing all these reps and then once the opportunity comes, you just got to make the best of it.”
His touches this season exceed his previous four-game high by over a third, and the increased workload has improved his rhythm and efficiency. Through four games, Walker averages 134.3 rushing yards and 155.3 yards from scrimmage, a jump from his career averages, which never surpassed 70 rushing yards or 81 yards from scrimmage per game.
Walker is quick to share credit with his teammates. “I feel like it's a whole team effort,” he said. “I know I get a lot of the credit, but I always say those guys up front, the linemen, the wide receivers and tight ends, they're doing a great job of making me and [the other running backs'] job a lot easier.”
Reid’s reputation for inventive play-calling is also part of Walker’s breakout. Ahead of the Chiefs’ season opener, Reid showed Walker a grainy 1938 play called “Heisman.” Initially skeptical, Walker said, “I was like, ‘No way we really going to run this.’ It was gray and everything.” After practicing it, the Chiefs executed it against the Denver Broncos with Mahomes and backup Justin Fields lined up in a three-point stance. Walker took a toss from Mahomes, circled behind the line, and scored a touchdown untouched.
“It was so unique,” Walker said. “I've never been in a play like that where we're in a three-point stance and everything and it just messes up the defense. They don't know who to key on. … The way [Reid]'s able to get the ball into playmakers' hands is crazy to me. But he's been around for a long time, so he knows the game better than anyone.”
Injuries to the Chiefs’ receiving corps have made Walker’s role even more critical. Mahomes, returning from ACL and LCL surgery last December, admitted during the season opener he was still adjusting and sometimes forcing throws. Walker’s 191 yards and two touchdowns in that game helped ease Mahomes back into the rhythm of play.
More recently, the Chiefs suffered injuries to receivers Rashee Rice, who left in the first quarter of the Week 4 game, and Tyquan Thornton, who dislocated his left ankle in the fourth quarter and is expected to undergo surgery. These setbacks have increased pressure on Walker and the running game to carry the offense.
Walker’s progress remains a focal point for the Chiefs as they contend with injuries and aim to maintain offensive balance. Reid’s commitment to Walker, combined with the running back’s rising production, shapes a new dynamic in Kansas City’s attack.
According to Yahoo Sports.
