Patrick Mahomes returned from nine months of injury rehabilitation to a loud welcome Monday night at Arrowhead, while Kenneth Walker III quietly jogged onto the field for his Kansas City debut. Together, they powered the Chiefs to a season opening 31-10 victory over the Denver Broncos.
Mahomes entered the field jumping and screaming during player introductions as fans cheered his return. Walker arrived without any celebration before making an immediate impact alongside the quarterback.
Kansas City never trailed as Mahomes and Walker produced highlights in their first game together. Mahomes, twice named league MVP, gave the ball to Walker, the reigning Super Bowl MVP and the Chiefs’ biggest offseason acquisition, early and often as the opening drive reached the red zone.
On his 10th snap, Mahomes scrambled out of the pocket and dove into the end zone from 15 yards while being hit by two defenders. His top speed on the play reached 15.8 mph, which was 2.5 mph faster than his average speed on rushing attempts last season, according to Next Gen Stats.
“Going for the end zone, it kind of gave me that confidence that I can go out there and be myself,” Mahomes said.
Mahomes underwent surgery in December to repair a torn ACL and LCL in his left knee. “That was definitely the moment, physically, to say all this work has paid off. I didn’t feel anything.”
Walker helped remove much of the offensive burden from Mahomes with his speed and ability to carry the ball. He ran through, around and past Denver for a career best 173 rushing yards, the most by a Chiefs player since 2018, when Mahomes became the team’s starter.
According to ESPN Research, Walker became the third player since 2000 to record at least 100 rushing yards in his Chiefs debut. He joined Kareem Hunt, who had 148 yards in 2017, and Clyde Edwards-Helaire, who recorded 138 yards in 2020.
“It means a lot,” Walker said of his strong Chiefs debut. “I see the O-line, the way they work in the weight room and the classroom.”
Mahomes’ return from injury was one reason Kansas City finished with more designed runs than passing attempts, 31 to 27. Another was undrafted rookie right tackle Kahlil Benson making his NFL debut at left tackle because Josh Simmons missed the game with a lower back injury.
Benson, who played at Indiana, became the first undrafted rookie on offense to start in Week 1 for coach Andy Reid. Reid’s Kansas City tenure began in 2013.
Walker finished with 191 all-purpose yards and two touchdowns through 26 touches. Reid said Walker emerged as the central figure in the offense during his debut.
“You never know, going in, how many times you’re going to give him the ball,” Reid said. “For him to play the way he did, I thought it was spectacular.”
Walker converted four short-yardage situations, including a touchdown run of 60 yards on fourth-and-inches early in the third quarter. “He’s phenomenal, man,” Benson said of Walker.
Walker helped the Seattle Seahawks win the Super Bowl last season. Against Denver, he generated 101 rushing yards over expected, the most by a Chiefs running back since at least 2018, according to Next Gen Stats.
He also forced 14 missed tackles, the most by any Chiefs player in a game during that span. Mahomes found more passing rhythm after halftime, completing 7 of 9 attempts for 122 yards in the second half.
“I didn’t play my best, but we were still able to go out there and beat a really good team pretty well,” Mahomes said. “The guys around me stepped up.”
Walker stood at the top of Mahomes’ list of those teammates. “It’s just a special ability to run the ball tough between the tackles and then, when he does bounce it, he has the speed to go all the way,” Mahomes said. “Once he gets the edge, he’s gone.”