Emmett Johnson arrived in Kansas City with the kind of profile that usually gets a rookie running back filed away as a long shot. The Chiefs have been down that road before, cycling through names like Darwin Thompson, Deneric Prince and Brashard Smith, only for the promise to fade by the time the season actually mattered.
Johnson has changed that script fast.
Taken in the fifth round, he was expected by many to settle in behind Kenneth Walker and maybe chip in here and there, the way a fringe roster back might. Instead, Johnson moved up the depth chart almost immediately.
He worked past three veterans - Walker, Emari Demercado and Smith - and even pushed the Chiefs to waive Demercado, their most experienced pass protector. Smith, despite making his rookie debut, was held to 0 offensive snaps.
For some Chiefs fans, that has been a surprise. For Price Carter, it has been the kind of development he has been pointing toward for more than a year.
Carter had already planted his flag on Johnson before the draft. On Dec. 1, 2025, he joked, "If the Chiefs draft Emmett Johnson I will eat 10 ears of corn live on @ArrowheadAddict podcast...
That's a promise! https://t.co/xdoNIE5jTf"
His belief in Johnson started with Nebraska, where Carter admits his fandom gave him a head start on the player. But Johnson’s 2025 season made the case on its own. Carter even included him in his annual "Price's Picks" draft-prospect column, praising the back’s production and versatility.
In April, Carter wrote:
"One of the most productive backs in this class and has some of the best passing-game work too. Johnson is the only FBS player to average more than 150 scrimmage yards per game.
He led the Big Ten with 1,451 rushing yards and became the first running back in Nebraska history to record 100-plus yards both rushing and receiving in the same game... Emmett Johnson is an ideal part-time back but could even take a starting job in the league.
His shifty cuts, vision, and tackle-breaking (he led the FBS in missed tackles forced) make him dangerous. Johnson will be a productive NFL back.
I feel confident about that"
What even Carter says he missed, though, was how well Kansas City fit Johnson beyond the stat sheet. The Chiefs brought him into an environment with Eric Bieniemy and DeMarco Murray coaching him, plus Walker in the room as a veteran whose work habits draw strong praise. That structure has mattered.
Johnson’s background also fits the picture. He graduated as an Academic All-Big Ten selection with a media degree, and that shows up in the way he handles himself.
He even asked Kimmi Chex an interview question on the sideline of a preseason game. Off the field, he has connected with fans by doing a YouTube series that takes him to Kansas City’s top BBQ spots to sample the city’s food.
And the Chiefs have noticed the rest of his game too. Carter has highlighted the details that coaches love: special teams tackles, blitz pickup and work as a pass catcher.
"Making tackles on special teams, picking up blitzes, chunk gains as a pass catcher...
Emmett Johnson is a FOOTBALL PLAYER and that is why the #Chiefs had so much faith in a rookie RB! pic.twitter.com/orYC1g3UI4
- Price Carter (@priceacarter) September 15, 2026"
Through two weeks, Walker has been everything the Chiefs could have wanted, showing the kind of force that suggests a true bell-cow role. But the bigger picture is starting to come into focus. Kansas City does not appear to be thinking only about September.
Johnson may end up playing a larger role than anyone expected, and keeping Walker fresh could become a real part of the Chiefs’ playoff plan.
In Other News...
Chiefs Suddenly Have Real Stakes At Left Tackle Against Miami
Kansas City heads into its matchup with Miami with one of its most important protection questions still hanging over the week. Josh Simmons will not be available at left tackle, which leaves the Chiefs to sort out how they want to handle Patrick Mahomes blind side against a Dolphins defense that has given them plenty to think about before kickoff. There is some relief elsewhere on the roster, though, with cornerback Mansoor Delane set to be available and several key players, including Mahomes, officially cleared from the injury report.
The broader injury picture tilts more in Kansas Citys favor than Miamis, with the Dolphins set to be without wide receiver Caleb Douglas because of an ankle injury and running back Jaylen Wright also doubtful. Even so, the Chiefs attention is likely to stay on the tackle spot, where the absence of Simmons turns a routine week into a test of depth and flexibility. For a team built around Mahomes, the line in front of him often shapes the whole game, and this one has suddenly become a real storyline. [Read more 🡒]
Chiefs Receiver Search Starts With 5 Names Fans Should Track Now
The Chiefs receiver hunt is already underway, and it is happening well before the usual draft chatter really takes hold. Kansas City scouts are evaluating a small group of college pass catchers during the 2026 season, with Texas wideout Ryan Wingo, Clemsons Bryant Wesco Jr. and TJ Moore, Cals Ian Strong, and Illinois receiver Collin Dixon all on the radar as the team keeps searching for more stability on the perimeter.
There is obvious urgency behind the work. The Chiefs have dealt with inconsistencies at wide receiver, and Rashee Rices looming free agency only sharpens the need to find another reliable option in the passing game. For now, the job is simple enough: keep watching these names week after week and see which one looks like the best fit for a team that may need help there sooner rather than later. [Read more 🡒]
Chiefs Are Asking Rashee Rice To Do Something Risky
The Chiefs have been using Rashee Rice in a new offensive wrinkle that borrows from a Los Angeles Rams concept, one that asks the receiver to do more than just get open. Its a physical job built around blocking and a C-Gap insert route, and Rice has already been working it into games as Kansas City looks to create more play-action chances and keep defenses guessing.
Its a fitting showcase for Rice, who has earned praise from offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy for the way hes handled the assignment. Still, the role comes with a built-in concern for Kansas City, since Rices smaller frame and the teams thin wide receiver depth make every extra collision feel a little more consequential, especially with his contract situation still unsettled. [Read more 🡒]