Emmett Johnson, Welcome to the NFL! (Mon 8/10 Seg 8) - Middays With Matt

Summary4 min read

Middays With Matt — "Emmett Johnson, Welcome to the NFL!"

Host: Matt McMaster (NRGMedia)
Date: August 10, 2026
Segment: Emmett Johnson’s Arrival in the NFL (Mon 8/10 Seg 8)

Episode Overview

This episode of "Middays With Matt" spotlights Emmett Johnson as he enters his rookie NFL season with the Kansas City Chiefs. Host Matt McMaster discusses Johnson’s “Welcome to the NFL” moment in training camp, his potential contributions on the team, the buzz among fantasy football enthusiasts, and offers amusing asides—including an unexpected tangent about zebras and irrational fears. The tone is lighthearted, authentic, and a bit irreverent, mixing football analysis with personal anecdotes and audience interaction.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Emmett Johnson’s “Welcome to the NFL” Moment

[00:50]: Matt references a tweeted video (originally posted by Matt Foster, retweeted by Matt himself) featuring Emmett Johnson (EJ) in a Kansas City Chiefs training camp drill.
- In the play, Patrick Mahomes makes a good throw, Johnson turns upfield, demonstrating speed and athleticism.
- However, Johnson immediately gets "laid out" by safety Xavier Nwankpa. Matt jokes about Nwankpa’s nonchalance after making the hit.
Quote:

"EJ turns upfield. He looks really good. He looks fast in the picture... it's a good route that he ran as well. And then he gets laid out. He is absolutely pummeled into the ground."
— Matt (00:55)
Matt comments that it’s preferable for rookies to experience those hard-hitting lessons in camp rather than during the regular season.

Emmett Johnson’s Role and Potential in Kansas City

[01:45]: Matt notes discussions on a fantasy football podcast about Johnson’s potential role behind Kenneth Walker.
- Podcast consensus: Johnson is not a draft target, but his name surfaces as a potential challenger to Walker for touches—which they emphatically dismiss.
Emphasizes the challenges for Johnson as a rookie:
- Must adjust to playbook, pass protection, special teams responsibility.
- His versatility could make him a valuable contributor.
Quote:

"He's going to have to be a contributor on special teams, but I think EJ and his versatility has the ability to be a very effective running back in the NFL."
— Matt (02:15)

NFL Training Camp Anecdotes & Locker Room Fights

[03:06]: Matt and his producer riff on training camp scuffles.
- Mentions Kenneth Walker getting into a “little bit of fight” with a defensive back at camp.
- Describes the event as “very fun,” reveling in the drama and entertainment of preseason skirmishes.
Quote:

"NFL training camp fights are very fun. Very much enjoying them."
— Matt (03:20)

Listener Interaction & Irrational Fears (Zebra Tangent!)

[03:24]: Responding to a listener (“Mr. Nick”), Matt addresses the rumor about zebras being part of his irrational fears.
- Affirms his love for the zebras at the Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha (“Larry and Tom”).
- Expands on the topic of irrational fears regarding seeing exotic zoo animals in unexpected places—even non-threatening animals, like penguins, would throw him off.
Quote:

"There is no limit to what exotic zoo animal I could see on the street. And it could freak me out...even if it's a very non-harmful cat of some sort...If I saw an emperor penguin just walking on the street in Omaha...that would freak me out. Henceforth, an irrational fear."
— Matt (03:50)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On Emmett Johnson’s Training Camp Hit
"He gets laid out. He is absolutely pummeled into the ground...better to have those moments probably in training camp than to have them during the regular season."
— Matt (01:07)
On NFL Rookies’ Duties
"You got to get used to the protection. You got to get used to the offense. You know, he's going to have to be a contributor on special teams..."
— Matt (02:10)
On Irrational Animal Fears
"I'd actually be concerned about the penguin, their ability to stay healthy. But it's one of those things where it's like...that would freak me out. Henceforth, an irrational fear."
— Matt (03:47)

Timestamps for Key Segments

00:31: Introduction, Norman Powell NBA tweet, transition into Emmett Johnson’s NFL moment
00:55: Breakdown of Emmett Johnson’s training camp highlight & hit from Xavier Nwankpa
01:45: Emmett Johnson’s potential fantasy football role and rookie challenges
03:06: Kenneth Walker’s training camp fight; NFL camp shenanigans discussion
03:24: Listener Q&A leads to Matt’s zebra/animal tangent
04:21: Episode wraps up football talk, sets up tease for next college sports discussion

Episode Summary Takeaways

This episode takes a fun, insider look at Emmett Johnson’s NFL debut in camp.
Host Matt McMaster blends sharp football insights and playful banter, offering both analysis (on Johnson’s role and development) and personal stories.
The segment is a blend of sports reporting, community interaction, and lighthearted asides, reflecting the tone and personality that define "Middays With Matt".

Recommended for:
Fans of Nebraska football and Chiefs rookies, fantasy football enthusiasts curious about sleeper candidates, and listeners who appreciate sports talk with personality and wit.

Loading summary

Transcript5 lines

[00:01]
A
Grainger knows when you're a procurement manager for an office park, you're not managing one building, you're managing all of them. And to stay ahead, you need to see through walls and around corners. Lights about to fail, filters ready to clog H VAC on its last leg. If you wait until something breaks, you're already behind. Count on Grainger for quality products, easy reordering and 24. 7 support. Call 1-800-GRAINGER click grainger.com or or just stop by Granger for the ones who get it done.
[00:32]
B
He's from the third largest village in the world. Skokie, Illinois. Middays with Matt on 1620 the Zone. Can I read you a tweet from NBA Central from my new favorite player, Norman Powell of the Chicago Bulls. Norman said about the Bulls quote, we have the potential to be really good, but we also have the potential to be really bad. Very comforting things to hear from your top of the line signing in the off season. Yeah, we could be good. We could be. Could be terrible, too. Could be absolutely awful. Good job, Norman. I was scrolling more through Twitter and I found that Emma Johnson has had his welcome back to the or welcome to the NFL moment. Matt Foster, by the way, formerly of ketv, which is no surprise because you know, Matt covered Huskers, knows the Huskers very well. He's currently with KSHB 41 of Kansas City. Posted a video of Emma Johnson's retweeted at Matt McNeedy if you want to look at it. I retweeted Matt Fosker's video and, and it's a, you know, really good throw for Patrick Mahomes. EJ Turns upfield. He looks really good. He looks fast in, in the, in the picture. It's a really good catch. It's a good route that he ran as well. And then he gets laid out. He has absolutely pummeled into the ground. I don't know the player who had the Xavier, Xavier wonk. Wonka hit him and then kind of walked off. He's like, all right, hey, what's up, Brooke? Have fun with that. And so better to have those moments probably in training camp than to have them during the regular season. Gonna be interesting to see where I heard Emmett. I was listening to a fantasy football podcast and they actually brought up Emma Johnson not as somebody to draft. They brought up someone. They brought up EJ as could EJ Take away carers from Kenneth Walker, which they emphatically said no. But it will be interesting to see what Emmett does in his first year at Kansas City and you know, obviously he's gotta improve some things just in terms of the stuff that isn't catching the ball and running the ball. You got to get used to the protection. You got to get used to the offense. You know, he's going to have to be a contributor on special teams, but I think EJ and his versatility has the ability to be a very effective running back in the NFL. So, I mean, if Kenneth keeps tackling DBs, you know, Emma might get a chance. I think we saw that video. No, I didn't see that.
[03:06]
A
You didn't?
[03:06]
B
Yeah, there was a little bit of fight on Saturday camp. Good for ej. Yeah. No, not for ej. Yeah, Kenneth Walker. Oh, Kenneth Walker fought somebody. Looks like a db, kind of like shoulder a little bit. He didn't seem to like it. Yeah, he threw the football at him and then just went full. It was a good fundamental tackle. NFL training camp fights are very fun. Very much enjoying them. From Mr. Nick on Twitter, he goes at Matt McMedia. Did you just sneak a zebra into your irrational fear? Everyone knows I love the zebras. This is something that everybody knows. Okay, Larry and Tom over at the Henry Dorley Zoo. Yes, I've named them. They're right next to the lions exhibit. It's just two zebras. They're just running around and it's just I, I think they live the greatest life, really, because it's just they, they eat great food and they just run all day. No, I'm not afraid of zebras in general. I, I will say though that like, there is no limit to what exotic zoo animal I could see on the street. And it could freak me out. Like, even if it's like a, a very non harmful cat of some sort, you know, or if I saw a penguin, let's say I saw an emperor penguin just walking on the street to Omaha. I know the penguin ain't gonna hurt me. I'd actually be concerned about the penguin, their ability to stay healthy. But it's one of those things where it's like I. That would freak me out. Henceforth, an irrational fear. So we will, we'll stop talking about my irrational fears and we'll, we'll talk about some other college sport things coming up next year. I'm a dismal.
[04:28]
A
Grainger knows. When you're a procurement manager for an office park, you're not managing one building, you're managing all of them. And to stay ahead, you need to see through walls and around corners, lights about to fail, filters ready to clog H Vac on its last leg. If you wait until something breaks, you're already behind. Count on Grainger for quality products, easy reordering and 24. 7 support. Call 1-800-GRAINGER click grainger.com or just stop by Grainger for the ones who get it done.