Chiefs Rule Out Kenneth Walker III vs. Falcons With Groin Strain; Rookie Emmett Johnson to Lead Backfield
Kansas City is holding its star running back out of Sunday's game in Atlanta after he hurt his groin in Thursday's practice, handing the lead role to fifth-round rookie Emmett Johnson
The Kansas City Chiefs will be without running back Kenneth Walker III on Sunday in Atlanta. The team downgraded him from questionable to out Saturday with a groin injury.
Kenneth Walker (groin) has been downgraded to out for Sunday’s game against the Falcons. Chris Jones (NIR - Personal) will not travel with the team and will arrive on his own to Atlanta. He has no game designation.View on X →
Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs): Kenneth Walker (groin) has been downgraded to out for Sunday’s game against the Falcons. Chris Jones (NIR - Personal) will not travel with the team and will arrive on his own to Atlanta. He has no game designation.
Walker reported groin tightness Friday morning after getting hurt in Thursday's practice, and he sat out Friday's session. The strain is considered minor and isn't expected to be a long-term problem, but with only two days between the injury and kickoff, Kansas City chose to give him the week rather than risk a short absence turning into a longer one.
The timing takes some shine off one of Week 10's marquee individual matchups. Walker ranks second in the NFL with 872 rushing yards, just eight behind Falcons star Bijan Robinson's league-leading 880.
Rookie Emmett Johnson, a fifth-round pick (No. 161 overall) out of Nebraska, will lead the backfield in his place. Johnson has been used sparingly on the ground, with 26 carries for 111 yards and a touchdown, but he has been a big-play threat as a receiver, catching 14 passes for 237 yards (16.9 per catch) and a score.
The Chiefs listed defensive tackle Chris Jones as not injury-related for personal reasons. He won't travel with the team but will meet it in Atlanta and carries no game designation.
Kansas City (6-2) sits a half-game behind Denver in the AFC West and should have Patrick Mahomes, who practiced fully this week after his elbow scare, along with deadline pickup Josh Downs. The Falcons (3-6) have lost four of five but remain a half-game out of first in the NFC South. Kickoff at Mercedes-Benz Stadium is 10 a.m. PT Sunday on CBS.