The Chiefs are expected to deactivate RB Kenneth Walker III for Sunday's game in Atlanta, according to multiple reports. The team reportedly still believes the injury -- suffered in Thursday's practice -- to be minor.
Update: Walker has officially been downgraded to out for Week 10.
What They're Saying
NFL Network's Ian Rapoport: "This is considered a minor groin strain, but since it happened on Thursday, the team will exercise caution."
Rookie RB Just Became Very Important
Walker's injury puts rookie RB Emmett Johnson in line for big-time volume against the Falcons.
Johnson ranks a distant second behind Walker in carries for the season (159-26) and RB targets (36-16), but he has flashed intriguing potential since the preseason.
That potential showed brightest in Johnson's 5-catch, 128-yard Week 8 that included a 73-yard TD on a short pass from Patrick Mahomes in the loss at Denver.
Johnson's receiving ability in particular highlights the likelihood that he'll dominate backfield work in Week 10. Combine that with Mahomes coming off a minor Week 9 elbow injury and a Falcons defense that's played the pass tougher than the run, and we could be looking at a high-level workload for the rookie.
He carries top-12 upside into his first NFL start. Grab him where available and start him wherever it makes sense. Check our Week 10 RB rankings to see where Johnson settles.
