Walker missed Friday's practice after tweaking his groin, clouding his status for Kansas City's trip to Atlanta.
Kenneth Walker III sat out practice Friday with a sore groin, leaving the Chiefs guessing whether their lead back will suit up Sunday against the Falcons. Coach Andy Reid said Walker had "tweaked" the injury and that the team would monitor him through the weekend, adding, "We'll see. He's not one to say something like that (without meaning it)."
The timing stings. Walker has run for 872 yards in his first season in Kansas City, sitting just eight yards behind Bijan Robinson for the NFL rushing lead despite playing one fewer game than the Falcons back. His average of 109 yards per game leads the league, and he has also made himself useful through the air, hauling in 22 catches.
Kansas City does get a bit of a silver lining elsewhere in the backfield picture: newly acquired wide receiver Josh Downs, picked up in a trade with Indianapolis, plans to play days after arriving. Whether Walker joins him remains unresolved heading into the weekend.