Chiefs' Walker held to season-low 36 rushing yards in return to Seattle

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  Nate TaylorOct 26, 2026, 02:14 AM ET

SEATTLE -- Kansas City Chiefs running back Kenneth Walker III watched the final play of Sunday's game, a 20-3 loss to the Seattle Seahawks, and did the opposite of his teammates who were also on the sideline: He never approached the middle of the field.

Instead, Walker walked to the Chiefs' locker room inside Lumen Field, electing not to talk, shake hands or congratulate his former Seahawks teammates.

In his anticipated return to Seattle -- the first Super Bowl MVP to play against his former team the following season -- Walker had his worst game with the Chiefs.

"S---, we lost," Walker said in explaining his decision. "I was frustrated. That's about it. I [saw] them over there celebrating and s---. That's about it."

Entering Sunday's primetime matchup, Walker's presence and playmaking ability -- he had a league-leading 665 rushing yards during Kansas City's 5-0 start, the most in a player's first five games with a new team in NFL history -- made him a focal point for both teams.

The Seahawks also entered Lumen Field with their own impressive streak, having completed 35 consecutive games, including the playoffs, without allowing a 100-yard rusher.

In the strength-against-strength battle, Walker wasn't able to break many tackles or create a memorable highlight. He finished with a season-low 36 rushing yards on 14 attempts.

Even when quarterback Patrick Mahomes completed his four passes to Walker, he recorded just 21 receiving yards.

"They've got playmakers, you know," Walker said of the Seahawks' defenders. "They played hard and they outplayed us. We've just got to get better."

Perhaps the biggest surprise for Walker and the Chiefs was that they were unable to punish the Seahawks when just seven defenders were in the box. On Walkers' eight rushing attempts against seven defenders in the box, he produced just 19 yards, according to Next Gen Stats.

Prior to Sunday, Walker had generated seven plays in which he gained at least 20 rushing yards or more, tied with Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson for the most in the league, despite playing one fewer game than Robinson. The Seahawks, who spent most of the game playing two deep safeties, never let Walker have a rush where he gained at least 10 yards.

The Chiefs' 50 snaps Sunday night included the Seahawks playing nickel or dime personnel on all of those plays. Entering Sunday, the Chiefs led the NFL with 7.3 yards per play against five or more defensive backs, according to Next Gen Stats.

"I ain't going to lie, I did," Seahawks safety Nick Emmanwori said of wanting to limit Walker's production. "I definitely did want to hold him under 100. I don't really listen to all the media noise, but that was my motivation. I know a lot of dudes on the defense, that was their motivation, too, to stop him under 100 [yards] and play lights out on defense. I think we did that."

Coach Andy Reid and Mahomes were hoping to rely on Walker since the unit played without left tackle Josh Simmons, who was placed on injured reserve last week with a herniated bulging disc in his back, and right tackle Jaylon Moore, who suffered a concussion last week. The Chiefs were also without receivers Rashee Rice, who missed Sunday's game with a strained right hamstring, and Tyquan Thornton, who is on the injured reserve list after having surgery to repair his dislocated left ankle.

The Seahawks were able to capitalize on Mahomes' interception in the second quarter to build a 10-point lead just after the two-minute warning. As the Chiefs attempted to rally, Walker had just five carries in the second half.

Without the threat of Walker, the Chiefs' collection of receivers -- Xavier Worthy, rookie Cyrus Allen, Justin Watson, Andrew Armstrong and Jalen Royals -- produced just six receptions for 39 yards.

"I ain't going to lie, I did. I definitely did want to hold him under 100. I don't really listen to all the media noise, but that was my motivation. I know a lot of dudes on the defense, that was their motivation, too, to stop him under 100 [yards] and play lights out on defense. I think we did that." Seahawks safety Nick Emmanwori on wanting to limit Kenneth Walker III's production

"We have to help him," Mahomes said of Walker. "That's the biggest thing. When they put so many eggs in that basket of stopping the run game, we have to have the play-action game and the movement game to be able to throw the ball. If we're not proving that, they're going to continue to put those guys up at the line of scrimmage. That's hard for the run game."

The Chiefs' three points tied their fewest in a game started by Mahomes, a 10-year veteran. The Seahawks defense was able to demonstrate its dominance over Walker and Mahomes by preventing the Chiefs from even reaching the red zone, the first time that has occurred in the quarterback's 153 starts, including the postseason.

"We didn't execute, especially around that midfield area," Mahomes said. "It kept us away from a lot of points, or at least enough points to be competitive. We've got to learn from it.

"You've got to feel it. This sucks. You don't want to perform like this in primetime."