The Chiefs’ early-season spark has been built around Kenneth Walker III, and the running back says he feels right at home in Andy Reid’s offense. Through a 4-0 start, Walker has piled up 621 yards from scrimmage and six touchdowns, production that has quickly made him central to what Kansas City is doing.
Walker said Reid’s usage has shown off the full range of his game. “I feel like Coach Reid sees that I can do everything out of the backfield: run, block, catch,” Walker said, via the Chiefs Wire. “It’s great to be in that position knowing they rely on me in a certain way, and it’s a blessing to be here.”
He also pointed to the relationship with Reid as a big part of why the fit has clicked. “Yeah, definitely.
It’s always great to be around someone that understands you. But he also expects the best out of you, so when we get to practice, he expects us to go 100% every time.”
In Las Vegas, the Raiders are still waiting on second-year receiver Dont’e Thornton, who has yet to debut this season after beginning the year on injured reserve with a hamstring injury. Thornton was back at practice before Week 5 but did not suit up, and head coach Klint Kubiak laid out the standard Thornton has to meet before he gets added to the 53-man roster.
“He’s got to prove to us he’s ready to go play in the NFL game. That his conditioning is there,” Kubiak said, via the Raiders Wire.
“He didn’t have a lot of training camp, guys. He’s coming back from a lot of time off, but he’s worked really hard and he’s put himself in position last week to prove to us this week and maybe next week that he’s ready to go.”
The Raiders’ offense, meanwhile, has bigger problems than a missing receiver. In Week 5’s loss to the Patriots, Las Vegas managed only 38 rushing yards, and Kubiak said the team has to examine every option along the offensive line. He made clear the unit has not done enough and took responsibility for getting it corrected.
“Yeah, we have to, we have to look at everything,” Kubiak said, via RaidersWire. “We have to improve there, and something I’ve been saying for multiple weeks now.
That’s not getting done. So as a coaching staff, this falls on me, falls on me to get it fixed.”
In Other News...
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The matchup picture could change if Buffalos injury situation tilts the balance at a couple of spots, adding another layer of uncertainty to a game that already feels like a swing point for both teams. For the Raiders, the broader issue is simple: if those one-on-one duels break their way, they can travel to Buffalo and make a real statement, but if they dont, the margin for error against a 4-1 opponent gets very thin very quickly. [Read more 🡒]
Brock Bowers Looks Even More Dangerous In Klint Kubiaks New Role
Brock Bowers has already looked like one of the most dangerous pieces in the Raiders passing game, but the way Klint Kubiak is deploying him in 2026 has only sharpened that edge. Instead of staying attached to the formation like a traditional tight end, Bowers is spending more time split out wide and being asked to work as a downfield target, a usage pattern that echoes how Kubiak featured Jaxon Smith-Njigba with the Seahawks a year ago.
The early returns have been hard to ignore. Bowers is leading all tight ends in yards per route run and, even with only three games under his belt, ranks 20th in the NFL in receiving yards. The bigger question for the Raiders is how far Kubiak keeps leaning into this expanded role, because the more Bowers is treated like a perimeter receiver, the harder he is to game-plan for. [Read more 🡒]
Raiders Depth Chart Hints At Changes That Could Decide Buffalo Game
The latest Raiders depth chart offers a useful snapshot of where this roster stands heading into a Week 6 matchup with the Bills, and it also hints at how much can still shift before kickoff. Las Vegas is still sorting out how to maximize its talent, with the chart reflecting ongoing evaluations of players' roles, performance and how the staff wants to shape the rotation for Buffalo.
One of the more interesting spots to watch is on special teams, where the return game could see another adjustment if the coaches decide they need a different look. Up front, the offensive line still carries some uncertainty as Jackson Powers-Johnson works back toward form after missing time, and the left side remains an area the Raiders have to keep tightening if they want to give their offense a cleaner path against a difficult opponent. [Read more 🡒]