Kansas City Chiefs fans got a much calmer injury update Wednesday after a day of unease around Kenneth Walker’s absence from practice.
With the Chiefs set to host the Seattle Seahawks on Friday night at Arrowhead in the third and final preseason game, Andy Reid said Walker’s issue does not appear to be a serious one. Reid still stopped short of confirming whether the running back will play, but he explained why Walker had been out.
"For the last couple of days, [Kenneth] Walker, his shoe has been causing swelling on his ankle. We're trying to get that down, but he's okay. He's going to be fine," said Reid to open his press remarks.
That should be a relief for a Chiefs team that made Walker the centerpiece of its offensive overhaul this offseason. After a 6-11 season in which the unit looked efficient but never fully clicked, Kansas City handed Walker a three-year deal worth approximately $45 million after his Super Bowl MVP performance in Seattle’s win over the New England Patriots.
His arrival marked the biggest investment the team has made in the backfield in more than a decade, and it came alongside other changes at the position. The Chiefs also drafted Emmett Johnson in the fifth round out of Nebraska and added Emari Demercado in free agency. Still, Walker’s burst and playmaking were the main reasons for the move, with the idea being to strengthen the run game and ease some of the load on Patrick Mahomes as he continues coming back from torn knee ligaments.
Friday’s preseason game matters less than the bigger picture, and that picture is Week 1. Reid’s comments suggested that Walker should be on track for that, even if he sits out against Seattle.
Reid also ruled out several other veterans for the Seahawks game, saying they’ll keep working through injuries they’ve been dealing with for a while. That group includes defensive end Ashton Gillotte (ruptured plantar fascia), right guard Trey Smith (hip), left tackle Josh Simmons (back), safety Chamarri Conner (knee), and linebacker Jack Cochrane (knee). Mahomes will not play until the regular season begins.
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