Saturday’s matchup at Mercedes‑Benz Stadium pits the Kansas City Chiefs against the Atlanta Falcons amid a spate of injuries that have reshaped the Chiefs’ depth chart. Starting running back Kenneth Walker III, the league’s second‑leading rusher, is listed as inactive, forcing head coach Andy Reid to lean on younger talent in the backfield.
Backfield adjustments
Walker entered the game trailing Atlanta’s Bijan Robinson by just eight yards and has been a cornerstone of the Chiefs’ offense since signing as a free agent. He finished his rookie season with 872 rushing yards and 1,054 total yards from scrimmage, scoring 11 touchdowns. His absence opens the door for rookie Emmett Johnson, a fifth‑round pick from Nebraska, who has shown promise in limited action, especially as a receiver. Johnson currently owns 14 catches for 237 yards and has added 26 carries for 111 yards with two rushing touchdowns this season.
Backup running back Jadyn Ott, who earned his first NFL carries earlier in the week, is also out after a hamstring injury sustained in practice. The Chiefs also moved fullback Ben Sumeren to the inactive list, leaving Johnson and second‑year tailback Nate Carter as the primary options. Carter, a Michigan State product who spent last season with Atlanta, contributed 60 rushing yards in seven games.
Offensive line and defensive updates
Right tackle Jaylon Moore remains sidelined with an ankle injury for the second straight week. On the defensive side, rookie defensive tackle Peter Woods is out with a neck issue, and fellow defensive tackle Omarr Norman‑Lott has yet to be activated from injured reserve.
Quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who played through a throwing‑arm injury in the recent win over the New York Jets, participated fully in practice and carries no injury designation heading into the game.
Rookie cornerback returns
Perhaps the most notable return is that of rookie cornerback Mansoor Delane, the Chiefs’ sixth‑round pick from the 2024 NFL Draft. Delane missed the last two contests with a shoulder injury that kept him out for roughly half the season. Despite limited time on the field, he has already recorded 27 tackles, five passes defended and an interception, including two games with a career‑high ten tackles.
Delane’s activation adds depth to a secondary that also listed veteran cornerback Melvin Smith as inactive. The Chiefs’ defensive roster also includes newly elevated practice‑squad wide receiver Jacob De Jesus, who provides a return option after the team cut Nikki Remigio to make room for rookie wideout Josh Downs, acquired from Indianapolis at the trade deadline.
Falcons roster notes
Atlanta designated veteran quarterback Andy Dalton as its emergency third quarterback, while linebacker Divine Deablo (forearm) is listed as doubtful. Other Falcons listed as inactive include quarterback Jack Strand, wide receiver Zachariah Branch, cornerbacks Robert Longerbeam and Avieon Terrell, and offensive lineman Cameron Williams.
Game outlook
The Chiefs (6‑2) are fighting to stay in the playoff hunt, while the Falcons (3‑6) look to climb out of the NFC South’s lone losing‑record division. Kickoff is set for noon, and Kansas City will rely on its younger players to fill the gaps left by the injured veterans.
Original reporting: KSHB 41 Kansas City (local) — read the source article.
