Judging Emmett Johnson's Chiefs debut requires looking beyond the raw numbers

When you look at the modest statistics Emmett Johnson put up in his NFL debut with the Kansas City Chiefs, some Nebraska football fans might find his first outing disappointing. Those who aren’t overly excited about Monday night’s outing need to look well beyond the raw numbers and see that he offered plenty to look forward to as the 2026 season continues.

In the Chiefs’ 31-10 win over the Denver Broncos, Johnson served as the backup running back and entered the game when RB1 Kenneth Walker needed a rest. Walker finished the game with 26 touches, acting as a workhorse Kansas City has rarely seen at the position in the current era. That Johnson got 10 touches of his own may show a shift in how Andy Reid’s offense will operate this season.

That Johnson and Walker were the only running backs to see action for the Chiefs on Monday night is already a good sign for the former Nebraska star. While Johnson had a fantastic preseason, questions remained about where he’d land on the depth chart and how much playing time he’d get. Monday showed he's cemented himself as the primary backup and can handle the NFL grind, despite being a surprisingly late-round selection in the 2026 NFL Draft.

Johnson’s 10 touches were split between 8 carries for 24 yards and 2 catches for 44 yards. The 3 yards per carry certainly won’t impress anyone and might make some nervous Nebraska backers wonder if the lack of production there will spell less playing time for EJ next week. However, it’s his ability to be a weapon in the passing game that should have shown the Chiefs why he needs more, not less, action in their upcoming games.

Johnson hauled down a 25-yard pass and also logged a 19-yard reception. Both catches showed everything that made him such a breakout star at Nebraska in 2025. His 25-yard catch-and-run showed his shiftiness and how hard he is to bring down, even when a defender gets their hands on him.

His 19-yard catch showed him spinning out of one tackle and dodging another to get downfield in a hurry. The most impressive aspect of both catches was that they were little dump-off passes just beyond the line of scrimmage.

These weren’t situations where Johnson was out in space. He hauled down the catch in the middle of traffic and then turned something into nothing. Those catches also hint that while he wasn’t as successful on the ground, the long runs will come sooner rather than later.

Another aspect of the Chiefs’ Monday night win could mean the former Nebraska star gets even more action in Week 2. Because of Monday night's contest, Kansas City has a short turnaround for its Sunday game against the Colts. With Walker’s heavy load last night, the team might lean more on Emmett Johnson in their next game.

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