Emmett Johnson may not be getting a ton of touches in Kansas City, but he keeps making them count.
The former Nebraska standout has carved out a very specific role early in his rookie season with the Chiefs, especially when they want to use him as a pass-catching threat out of the backfield. Sunday night was another reminder of why he keeps drawing attention every time the ball finds him.
Johnson finished with just 2 carries for 15 yards and 2 receptions for 20 yards against the Indianapolis Colts, but the play everyone noticed was his 12-yard catch. Patrick Mahomes flipped him a screen, and Johnson turned it into a small showcase.
He slipped past the first defender, then made another move that helped him avoid two more tacklers and even caused those defenders to collide with each other. A fourth Colt eventually stopped him just beyond the line of scrimmage.
Emmett Johnson DANCIN' out there
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- NFL (@NFL) September 21, 2026
Through two weeks, Johnson has already put together a few highlight moments despite a limited workload. He has 10 carries for 39 yards and 4 catches for 64 yards, and he still hasn’t scored yet. That’s not the kind of usage most rookies turn into a regular talking point, but Johnson has made enough of an impression that his touches keep standing out.
Part of the reason is that he looks dangerous with the ball. The other part is the backfield ahead of him.
Kenneth Walker III has been the clear workhorse for Kansas City, and he backed that up again Sunday night with 117 rushing yards on 24 carries. He also added 6 catches for 61 yards. On the season, Walker has 290 yards on only 47 carries for a 6.2 yards-per-carry average and a touchdown, plus 9 receptions for 79 yards and another score.
Walker arrived in Kansas City in a trade with the Seattle Seahawks just days before the 2026 NFL Draft, and he’s been rolling ever since. Last year, he ran for 1,027 yards and 5 touchdowns while adding 31 catches for 282 yards. 2025 was his fourth NFL season and his best since his rookie year.
Johnson, meanwhile, comes out of Nebraska after a huge 2024 campaign. He led the Big Ten in rushing with 1,451 yards and 12 touchdowns on the ground, and he added 46 catches for 370 yards and 3 more scores.
That season made him a Maxwell Award Semifinalist, Doak Walker Award Semifinalist and Ameche-Dayne Running Back of the Year. He was also First-Team All-Big Ten and First-Team All-American (On3, CBSSports.com, Sports Illustrated, Sporting News) and Second-Team All-American (Walter Camp, The Athletic).
For now, Johnson’s lane in Kansas City is clear: limited touches, plenty of work in the passing game, and the occasional flash that turns a short throw into something much bigger.
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