The Chiefs addressed their need for an elite running back in free agency by signing Super Bowl MVP RB Kenneth Walker III to a three-year, $45 million contract in the offseason. However, with the preseason winding down, Walker picked up an injury that could affect his availability for Week 1.
According to ESPN’s Nate Taylor, Walker sat out Tuesday’s practice due to a foot injury. The severity of the injury is unclear, but Walker appeared at practice without a helmet.
When will Walker return from the foot injury, and will he play in Week 1? Below, we’ll attempt to answer that question with the latest Kenneth Walker III injury update, along with the impact on fantasy football and projections for the Chiefs on PrizePicks.
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Kenneth Walker III Injury Update: When Will Chiefs RB Return From Foot Injury?
While Walker didn’t practice at full capacity, the veteran RB was seen catching passes from an assistant coach during the stretch period of the session, which is a good sign with the season opener still more than two weeks away.
Reportedly, Walker is "fine" and should be good to go for Week 1 based on current info. Team reporters are theorizing the newly-acquired RB is just dealing with foot soreness or a mild foot sprain.
Walker spent the first four seasons of his career with the Seattle Seahawks after being selected in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft. In 2025, the talented RB racked up 1,027 yards and 5 TDs, while averaging 4.6 yards per carry. He also put himself in the NFL history books with a legendary playoff performance, capped off with a 135-yard performance to win Super Bowl MVP.
The Michigan State product played in all 17 games last year and has appeared in at least 15 contests in three of his four professional seasons.
Does Kenneth Walker III Injury Open the Door for Emmett Johnson in Fantasy Football?
It’s unclear if Walker’s injury is anything serious at this point, but if that is the case — or if the injury lingers, the Chiefs’ running game would take a big hit.
While Walker is an extremely dangerous back, the Seahawks split him nearly 50/50 with RB Zach Charbonnet last season. According to PlayerProfiler, Walker had a 47.5% snap share in 2025, which ranked 39th among running backs. In addition, his 221 carries ranked 20th among qualifying RBs.
Despite splitting the backfield with Charbonnet, Walker’s 221 carries were the second-most of his career. Walker ended up rushing for at least 97 yards in three of his final four games to finish the campaign.
And yet, his role is expected to increase on a Chiefs team where he has a clear path to be the bell-cow back.
If Walker ends up being out of the lineup in Week 1, the Chiefs could turn to rookie RB Emmett Johnson as the team’s leading ball carrier. That would certainly affect Kansas City’s season-long projections, including the Chiefs holding a 1.63x payout to reach 10+ wins on PrizePicks Team Picks.
Johnson has been the most impressive member of the Chiefs’ backfield through two preseason games. The 2026 fifth-round pick has tallied 84 rushing yards on 19 carries (4.4 yards per carry) along with 4 receptions for 20 yards. Johnson thrived in Kansas City’s preseason opener against the Los Angeles Rams when he registered 59 rushing yards on 12 attempts.
The Nebraska product did put together a monster collegiate season in 2025, rushing for 1,451 yards and 12 TDs. If Walker misses the start of the season, Johnson likely offers more upside than veteran Emari Demercado. However, the backfield would likely become quite messy, with Brashard Smith potentially also in the mix.
Ultimately, if KW3 misses time or isn't 100% to start the year, there wouldn't be a ton of value elsewhere; moreso, it would just bit a hit to KW3's fantasy value.
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RB Kenneth Walker III was held out of Tuesday’s practice due to a foot injury. While the alarm isn’t sounding just yet, it’s certainly going to be worth keeping an eye on the status of the star RB in the coming days as the regular season is only a few weeks away.
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