Kenneth Walker III’s return to Seattle did not go as planned for the Kansas City Chiefs’ newest star and reigning Super Bowl MVP.
Not only did Kansas City drop its first game of the season, losing 20-3 to the defending-champion Seahawks, but Walker was limited to just 36 yards on 14 carries in the defeat.
Meanwhile, the Seahawks got tremendous production from one of Walker’s replacements in Emanuel Wilson, who finished with 100 yards and a touchdown on 24 carries.
But the biggest winner on Sunday night may have been Seahawks general manager John Schneider, who made the controversial decision to let Walker leave as a free agent last March.
Walker capped a brilliant postseason run with Seattle last season by rushing for 135 yards in the Super Bowl win over the New England Patriots. The former second-round pick out of Michigan State would go on to sign a three-year, $43 million deal with the Chiefs, who had been looking to revamp their ground attack for several seasons.
Sunday’s performance notwithstanding, the move appeared to work for Chiefs GM Brett Veach as Walker gained 703 total yards and eight touchdowns as Kansas City began the season 5-0.
Kenneth Walker III’s return to Seattle did not go as planned for the Kansas City Chiefs’ newest star and reigning Super Bowl MVP, who was limited to36 rushing yards vs. the Seahawks
Chiefs running back Kenneth Walker III is tackled by ex-teammate Nick Emmanwori
In April, Schneider drafted Notre Dame’s Jadarian Price as a replacement, but the first-round pick was placed on injured reserve earlier this month with a chest injury.
And with Seattle’s disappointing 3-3 start to the season, Schneider’s decision not to re-sign Walker was beginning to look costly as opponents keyed in on the Seahawks’ passing game.
‘If nobody’s honoring your run, the play-action game is done with,’ NFL legend and ESPN analyst Randy Moss said before Sunday’s game.
But all of that changed on Sunday as the Seahawks (4-3) out-possessed the Chiefs by nearly 12 minutes thanks to a 153-50 edge in rushing yards.
