Chiefs want to lighten Kenneth Walker’s load after 56 touches in two games

Kenneth Walker III has revived the Kansas City Chiefs’ offense with his powerful running and ability to break tackles. Coach Andy Reid said the club wants to ease his workload slightly to preserve his energy and health, after the 56 touches he had in the first two games.

As reported by the NFL, before Week 3 Walker led the league with 290 rushing yards and 369 total yards (two touchdowns) in the 2026 season; after Thursday’s game Bijan Robinson moved to the top with 349 and 467 respectively. Walker’s figure is the highest for the first two weeks since C.J. Spiller in 2012 (292 yards), and at this pace he would finish with around 2,465 rushing yards, well above the current record.

The club seeks a balance to keep him healthy, especially given Walker had not played a full 17-game season before last season. As part of this plan, rookie Emmett Johnson will get more attempts; he has shown an ability to break tackles; so far he has 10 carries for 39 yards and four catches for 64 yards, or 103 total yards.

Offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy said they want to expand Johnson’s role without exposing him to major risks, while running backs coach DeMarco Murray admitted they must decide when to rest Walker and bring Johnson into the game. Per the NFL, team officials will manage the minutes to spread the load and preserve the squad’s productivity.