The Kansas City Chiefs have spent much of the early season dealing with injuries at wide receiver, but Patrick Mahomes is discovering that his offense has another way to win without relying entirely on its passing game.
Kenneth Walker III continued his outstanding start to the campaign on Sunday, scoring twice as Kansas City defeated the Los Angeles Chargers 22-6 to preserve its unbeaten record.
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The running back rushed for 128 yards on 19 carries, providing the decisive moments in a game where Mahomes struggled to turn promising drives into touchdowns.
His emergence has given Kansas City additional flexibility at a time when speculation continues over whether former Chiefs receiver Tyreek Hill could return to the franchise.
Kansas City's offense was far from flawless against Los Angeles, committing two costly mistakes near the goal line despite controlling much of the contest.
Mahomes completed 76 percent of his passes for 272 yards but threw an interception in the end zone and finished without a passing touchdown. Walker, however, delivered when the Chiefs needed him most.
Late in the second quarter, the running back appeared trapped behind the line of scrimmage before changing direction and escaping toward the outside.
Mahomes helped create the opening by blocking Chargers edge rusher Tuli Tuipulotu, allowing Walker to finish the two-yard touchdown run.
"With Kenneth, you got to be ready," Mahomes explained afterward.
"The defense that they [the Chargers] had, the moment he got stuffed on that front side, I was like, if I get him [Tuipulotu] he's [Walker] going to score. I didn't get a lot, but I got enough."
Walker now leads NFL running backs with 665 rushing yards, establishing himself as a major contributor to Kansas City's early success.
Tyreek Hill reunion remains uncertain
With Rashee Rice and Tyquan Thornton unavailable, the Chiefs have reasons to consider strengthening their receiving group. However, a reunion with Hill does not appear imminent.
According to The Athletic's Jonathan Jones, Kansas City isn't rushing to sign the veteran receiver and continues to explore alternatives.
Hill has been recovering from a serious knee injury suffered during the 2025 season, which limited him to just four appearances with the Miami Dolphins.
Former NFL cornerback Richard Sherman believes Hill's eventual asking price could also influence his options.
"If he's asking for $20 million a year or $10 million with a ton of incentives, I think that puts out a lot of the top contenders," Sherman said on The Richard Sherman Show.
Those figures were hypothetical, with Hill's actual salary expectations remaining unclear.
Legal questions complicate Tyreek Hill comeback
Hill's situation has become more complicated following a civil case involving his estranged wife, Keeta Vaccaro.
A jury found the receiver liable on two battery claims and awarded Vaccaro $500,000 in compensatory damages.
NFL insider Jordan Schultz has suggested that potential disciplinary action could influence when Hill signs with another team, although the league has not announced a suspension.
"There's still a possibility in my mind he signs in a few weeks, in a month," Schultz said on the Ross Tucker Podcast.
Meanwhile, Walker's production is helping Kansas City maintain its momentum despite significant personnel challenges.
The Chiefs haven't ruled out adding another receiver, but their victory over Los Angeles demonstrated that Mahomes already has a dependable offensive partner capable of deciding games.