CHIEFS NOTEBOOK | Riding the workhorse
The Kansas City Star
Larry Johnson was handed the ball 31 times in a physical game Sunday against Oakland. Four days later, he will possibly be asked to do the same thing or even more Thursday night against the Broncos at Arrowhead Stadium.
As addicted as the Chiefs are to Johnson, the Chiefs simply can’t help themselves but to go to Johnson, particularly in the late stages of a close game.
“Larry is a very strong runner,” coach Herm Edwards said. “He had a lot of carries last week. The week before, he did not. We always get concerned with that. He’s a guy that at the end of the year is probably going to carry the ball 400 times. That’s OK. I’m not going to sit here and say Larry Johnson is not going to get the ball. We’re going to play the way we play. That’s the only thing we can do.”
Walker: I’m not guilty
One of the key plays from Denver’s 9-6 win over the Chiefs two months ago came in overtime when Broncos wide receiver Javon Walker beat cornerback Ty Law for a 24-yard gain, setting up Jason Elam’s game-winning field goal.
Law at the time claimed Walker should have been penalized for pass interference because Walker shoved him. Replays appear to back his claim.
But Walker, in a conference call with Kansas City reporters, said he wasn’t guilty.
“When I’m running and the defensive back is running with me and I know what kind of route I’m running and I just stop, then he keeps on drifting and everybody automatically thinks I pushed off,” Walker said. “That’s just his momentum carrying him away from me. He doesn’t know when I’m going to stop.”
Injury report
P Chiefs Injury St.
OT K. Sampson foot O
TE T. Gonzalez shoulder Q
LB D. Johnson ankle Q
DE Tamba Hali hip P
OG Brian Waters knee P
P Broncos Injury St.
S N. Ferguson knee O
RB Mike Bell thigh Q
RB Tatum Bell toe Q
G C. Carlisle back Q
DE Kenard Lang knee Q
WR B. Marshall ankle Q
WR Rod Smith ankle Q
CB D. Williams shoulder Q
DE P. Chukwurah hamstring P
FB Kyle Johnson ankle P
RB Cedric Cobbs ankle P
LB Al Wilson thumb P
O: out; Q: questionable; P: probable
