Green Bay rookie linebacker Quay Walker issues apology after shoving Lions athletic trainer
Green Bay Packers rookie linebacker Quay Walker issued an apology on Monday morning following his ejection for shoving a Lions athletic trainer on Sunday night.
The first-rounder out of Georgia also cleared up questions about his reaction to his ejection after cameras captured his emotional walk back to the locker room through the tunnel.
“I want to apologize publicly about what happened Sunday night,” Walker tweeted. “I reacted off of my emotions again and take full responsibility of making another stupid decision. Since then I’ve questioned myself on why did I do what I did when the trainer was doing his job!! I was wrong!!
“I understand I have to face everything that comes with the decision I’ve made and I’m definitely paying for it now.”
“Also to explain my frustration in the tunnel,” Walker continued in the thread. “I wasn’t upset about being kicked out, I just knew I messed up again and was wrong for what I did and couldn’t believe I did it again. To the Detroit Lions and to the entire training staff including the person I did that to. I’m sorry.”
Green Bay selected Walker with the 22nd pick in the 2022 NFL Draft out of Georgia.
Green Bay head coach Matt LaFleur condemned the rookie’s actions after the game.
“That is unacceptable,” LaFleur said. “I’ve got a much higher standard for our players than to do silly things like that. We’ve got a guy ejected twice. I don’t think I’ve ever seen that in my career. We’ve got to be much more mentally tough.
“Any time our guys commit personal fouls I take that very personally because I think that’s always a reflection of myself and the standards we set for these players.”
Walker ejected again for contact with opposing staff
As the defender alluded to in his apology, this isn’t his first incident shoving a staff member while in the NFL either. Earlier this season, he shoved a member of the Buffalo Bills staff on their sideline and was subsequently ejected for that as well.
With the ejection, Walker finished his first regular season in the league with 121 tackles, seven pass deflections, three forced fumbles, 1.5 sacks, and a fumble recovery. Still, even with that kind of production, behavior like this isn’t a good look for a young player trying to make a name for himself in the league.