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Head coach Andy Reid provided the update on Friday, noting that Walker reported tightness in his groin area earlier that morning. The timing of the setback, which reportedly occurred during Thursday's practice session, left the coaching staff with little choice but to sideline him for the weekend to avoid further complications.
Rookie Emmett Johnson steps into starting role
While the injury is currently being described as minor, the Chiefs have opted for a cautious approach. Reports indicate that the organization wants to provide the running back with a full week of recovery time rather than risking his health in a quick turnaround. This decision effectively cancels what was highly anticipated as a marquee matchup between the league's two leading rushers.
Heading into the weekend, Atlanta’s Bijan Robinson currently holds the top spot in the NFL with 880 rushing yards, narrowly edging out Walker’s impressive tally of 872 yards. With the Kansas City starter unavailable, the team is expected to shift the focus of their ground game toward rookie Emmett Johnson. The young running back is now set to shoulder the primary workload in the backfield as the Chiefs look to maintain their offensive momentum against the Falcons.
