Kenneth Walker III isn’t advertising the emotion that comes with a trip back to Seattle, but the stage is set for one of the Chiefs’ biggest storylines of the week.
The Kansas City running back, now powering a 5-0 start, has been a force this season and heads into Sunday night’s matchup as the NFL’s rushing leader with 665 yards. He’s done it while playing one fewer game than many of his peers because of the Chiefs’ early bye, and he’s averaging 6.3 yards per carry, which puts him ahead of Falcons star Bijan Robinson. Walker also has six rushing touchdowns, leaving him two behind Buffalo quarterback Josh Allen for the league lead and one short of the top mark among running backs.
That production has helped Kansas City become one of the NFL’s final three unbeaten teams, but the return to Seattle gives the game an extra layer. Walker was drafted there by the Seahawks in the second round in 2022 and spent much of his time sharing the backfield with Zach Charbonnet, whom Seattle selected in the second round a year later. It wasn’t until Charbonnet’s knee injury late last season that Walker got a clear runway as the Seahawks’ lead runner.
Once that happened, the numbers turned loud. He rushed for 116 yards and three touchdowns in a playoff rout of the 49ers, added another score the next round against the Rams, and then capped the postseason with 135 yards against New England in the Super Bowl, earning MVP honors.
Still, Walker isn’t leaning into the narrative. After the Chiefs’ 22-6 win over the Chargers last weekend, he brushed past a question about going back to Seattle.
“I’m just focused on critiquing the mistakes we made,” Walker said. “Once we get to that point, we’ll see.”
That kind of understatement fits him. Patrick Mahomes said Wednesday the moment will mean plenty, even if the Chiefs are trying not to get swept up in it.
“I know it’s going to be a special moment for him to get back to the place where you kind of built your career, and won a Super Bowl,” Mahomes said. “Those fans were the people around him for all that.
A lot of those people were teammates he grew up with as well in the NFL. It will be a special moment for him.
“But at the end of the day,” Mahomes added, “we have to win a football game.”
Andy Reid said Walker’s style should translate no matter where he plays, but the coach also acknowledged the homecoming factor.
“He’s wired to do it,” Reid said. “When you’re on a team, everybody knows your strengths and weaknesses and quirks and everything.
I think the boys there will try to get after him a little bit. But he’s a pretty level-headed guy.
The way he plays, you’re going to get a good rep when he gets the ball in his hands. He kind of has one speed: He’s coming at you.
It doesn’t matter who he’s playing or where he’s playing.”
Chiefs linebacker Drue Tranquill knows the feeling of facing a former team, having spent his first four seasons with the Chargers.
“You’re emotions are higher,” Tranquill said. “There’s something a little more edgy to facing your former team.
At least, it was that way for me, and I’m sure he has a little chip on his shoulder, too. It will be a little hostile.
I’m sure he’ll love it.”
Kansas City also had a few practice concerns Wednesday. Right tackle Jaylon Moore and wide receiver Rashee Rice did not participate because of a concussion and hamstring injury, respectively. Left tackle Josh Simmons returned to practice after dealing with a back issue, though his season debut remains up in the air.
Reid also said he still believes in Harrison Butker after the kicker missed another field goal and an extra-point attempt last week. Butker has missed three field goals this season after missing five last year.
“We have confidence he’ll work through it,” Reid said. “He’s still doing some good things.
He has a strong leg. He’ll work it out.”
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