The Chiefs spent years hearing the same complaint from their fans: find a real running back and give this offense some balance. Brett Veach kept rolling with what he had, leaning on Isiah Pacheco, Kareem Hunt and the rest of the room. Then Patrick Mahomes’ injury near the end of the 2025 season changed the equation, and Kansas City finally brought in reigning Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker.
Now the question is whether Walker is just a useful addition or the piece that forces a real shift in how this offense operates.
NFL insider Albert Breer thinks the answer could be the latter. While at Chiefs training camp on Tuesday, he said the new-look offense should not be expected to resemble the recent version, and he pointed to a broader change beyond just adding Walker.
"Andy [Reid]'s obviously still running the offense, but you do go from Matt Nagy back to Eric Bieniemy, I do think there's going to be more of a commitment to the run game. I think there's going to be a little bit of a shift playing under center a little bit more with Kenneth Walker here," Breer said on The Dan Patrick Show on Tuesday.
"... that's going to serve a couple of purposes. Number one... it's going to help Mahomes as he comes back from the knee [injury] because there's always an adjustment.
He's looked great. He hasn't missed anything.
He's been out here every day... It's also going to unlock some things in the passing game for them...
I do think that the Chiefs offense is going to look a little bit different... A guy like Walker can unlock a lot of different things for them and he was such an important part of what the Seahawks did...
They are going to have a little bit of a different look on offense versus what they've had the last couple of years."
That kind of change would make sense. Kansas City has not leaned on the run the way it probably should have, even when the situation called for it. Reid has often tilted away from pounding the ball, but Walker gives the Chiefs a back who could make that approach harder to avoid.
And that matters for more than just aesthetics. A stronger run game gives the offense another layer, keeps defenses guessing, and, just as important, takes some of the burden off Mahomes as he works his way back after the knee injury.
If Kansas City can actually run the ball with consistency, this offense could open up in a way it hasn’t in the last couple of years. And if that happens, the Chiefs may look a lot different in 2026.
In Other News...
Trey Smiths Absence Puts Chiefs Offensive Line Under Early Pressure
The Chiefs moved into their ninth day of training camp with a padded practice after a lighter workout, and the focus quickly shifted to the offensive line when right guard Trey Smith was out with a hip issue. Kansas City was already working through a day of drills on both sides of the ball, but Smiths absence forced the staff to shuffle the front and keep the competition moving in a spot that rarely gets much attention until something goes wrong.
Kahlil Benson stepped in at right guard, while Jaylon Moore worked at right tackle with the first team as the Chiefs tried to keep the unit settled. Andy Reid also weighed in on individual performances as the team continued its practice routine, but Smiths status is the one worth watching now, especially with the line still in the early part of camp and trying to establish its preferred combination. [Read more 🡒]
Chiefs Camp Tension Just Put One Key Roster Battle In Focus
Training camp intensity has a way of showing up in the little stuff before it shows up on the field, and the Chiefs got a reminder of that during a recent practice session. What was supposed to be another step in sharpening the roster turned chippy in a hurry, with the competitive edge at camp spilling over into a pair of scuffles involving Felix Anudike-Uzomah, Kingsley Suamataia, Kenneth Walker and Alohi Gilman.
The team has made no secret that this is the kind of environment it wants, but moments like that also shine a brighter light on the roster battles unfolding behind the scenes. Joe Cullen and Patrick Mahomes both had to help calm things down, a sign that the emotions are already running hot as Kansas City sorts through roles and depth across the lineup. [Read more 🡒]
Former Chiefs Are Still Fighting To Prove They Belong In The NFL
A handful of former Chiefs are still working the circuit as training camps and roster battles keep churning, with several ex-Kansas City players taking part in tryouts and signing opportunities around the league. Geron Christian already landed with the Jacksonville Jaguars after a free agent visit, while Eric Scott has worked out with the Houston Texans and Baylor Cupp has drawn looks from the Indianapolis Colts, Miami Dolphins and Arizona Cardinals.
Cornell Powell is also in the mix after visiting the Green Bay Packers, a reminder that even after leaving Kansas City, the path to staying in the NFL rarely gets any easier. For these former Chiefs, the challenge is less about where they were before and more about finding the next team willing to give them a chance to stick. [Read more 🡒]