The Kansas City Chiefs enter Sunday’s trip to Atlanta with their offensive centerpiece in doubt.

Running back Kenneth Walker III has been listed as questionable after missing Friday’s practice with groin tightness, a designation that arrives after he reported the issue to trainers upon arriving at the facility that morning.

Andy Reid made clear the organization will not force the issue.

“We’ll see how he feels through this afternoon with rehab and through tomorrow,” the coach said. “We’re not going to put him at risk. If he can go, he can go. If he can’t, he can’t.”

Reid noted that Walker is not the type to sit out without genuine discomfort, underscoring both the caution and the respect the staff has for the veteran’s toughness.

The timing is inconvenient. Through eight games, Walker has rushed for 872 yards and seven touchdowns while averaging 5.5 yards per carry and roughly 109 yards per game, numbers that place him second in the league behind Atlanta’s Bijan Robinson.

He has also contributed as a receiver, adding another dimension to an offense that has leaned on his explosiveness since he arrived in free agency on a three-year, $43.05 million deal.

In a matchup that pits two of the NFL’s most productive backs against each other, his availability could shape how both teams approach the ground game.

Should Walker be limited or held out, the Chiefs would turn more heavily to rookie Emmett Johnson.

The fifth-round selection has already carved out a role on third downs and has shown enough promise that Reid has expressed confidence in him carrying a larger share. Still, replacing the production Walker has provided over the first half of the season is not a simple substitution.

The Chiefs have built their early-down efficiency around his ability to create yardage after contact and force defenses to respect the run, which in turn opens lanes for Patrick Mahomes in the play-action game.

For now, the organization is treating the situation as fluid.

Walker’s first significant regular-season injury concern in Kansas City remains minor in description, and the team expects to gather more information through Saturday’s evaluation before finalizing the active roster.

In a season where the Chiefs have invested heavily in establishing a more physical, run-oriented identity, the health of their lead back is central to that plan.

Sunday in Atlanta will offer the clearest picture yet of whether that plan proceeds as designed or requires a short-term adjustment.