Green Bay Packers rookie Quay Walker was ejected for the second time this season on Sunday night, and apologized for his actions on Monday morning.
Quay Walker’s second ejection was poorly-timed, as well, as he shoved a member of the Detroit Lions training staff who was hoping to help what at the time was an injured D’Andre Swift.
Swift took an elbow to the head from one of Walker’s Packers teammates, which went uncalled. Walker’s actions were initially called for a personal foul. Eventually, he was ejected after the officiating crew realized what had occurred.
#Packers first-round rookie LB Quay Walker has been ejected for shoving a member of the #Lions training staff.
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) January 9, 2023
Clear and obvious.pic.twitter.com/qxm9ycHt8I
In the aftermath of Damar Hamlin’s heart attack, which was suffered on the field during Monday Night Football, every team’s training staff is as important as ever. A reminder was needed. For Walker to shove a Lions assistant who was merely trying to help one of their players was an awful look, and one he apologized for on Monday morning.
Packers: Quay Walker apologizes for pushing training staff
Quay Walker lost his cool in the heat of the moment, as the Lions were driving down the field at the time. As a rookie, it’s somewhat understandable, but Walker needs to be a professional in those moments. This isn’t the first time he was ejected this season, and he clearly didn’t learn from that experience.
Walker also shoved a staffer who tried to help him up on the Buffalo sidelines in October. These sorts of things cannot happen, especially considering the staffers are not wearing pads. They don’t have the benefit of pushing back. It’s far too dangerous.
Matt LaFleur called Walker out postgame, calling his actions “unacceptable”.
“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. And we’ve got to be better and we’ve got to learn from that because that is unacceptable.”
As a rookie, Walker will have an opportunity to grow from this. But at this point, it’s a pattern, and a dangerous one.