Davante Adams lashed out at Thomas Davis on Monday, tweeting that the Panthers linebacker was "head hunting" when he led with his helmet on a blindside hit against the Packers wide receiver Sunday.
Adams suffered a concussion on the play and couldn't talk to reporters after Sunday's game at Carolina because players in the concussion protocol are barred from speaking to the media until they're cleared.
But that didn't keep Adams off social media Monday morning; he posted a series of critical tweets that ultimately prompted a Twitter apology from Davis.
I'll never understand it. Game is already dangerous enough and we got Pro Bowl players out here head hunting and saying they "didn't mean to harm me"
— Davante Adams (@tae15adams) December 18, 2017
Somebody please explain to me what I wasnt trying to hurt him means when we nowhere near the play and u lead with ya head and ear hole a defenseless player....
— Davante Adams (@tae15adams) December 18, 2017
Davis, who also didn't address reporters after the game, has been suspended two games by the NFL for the hit. He tweeted a reply to Adams earlier Monday, saying he "made a mistake."
I understand your frustration and I do apologize for the hit! In no way was I trying to hurt you. My first instinct was turn and make a block. In all sincerity I do apologize. I truly respect you as a player and I made a mistake!
— Thomas Davis (@ThomasDavisSDTM) December 18, 2017
Adams, who has had two concussions this season, also posted a pair of tweets that included profanity. He said there is "no room for s--- like that" in the sport and that players should "be in this together n look out for one another not mess with a mans livelihood and hand out unnecessary concussions."
Adams' tweets drew a response from Washington Redskins linebacker Zach Brown, who called on the Packers wide receiver to "stop crying about getting hit." He boasted in another tweet that he is "always headhunting."
Look, don't play football if u don't wanna get hit or hurt. So stop crying about getting hit !!! You know what u sign up for.
— Zach Brown (@ZachBrown_55) December 18, 2017
Tell him don't play.... cause I'm always headhunting
— Zach Brown (@ZachBrown_55) December 18, 2017
Davis was seen talking with Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers on the field late in the Panthers' 31-24 victory, but Rodgers wouldn't say if the conversation was about Adams.
Adams was able to walk off under his own power, unlike after the concussion he suffered against the Bears in Week 4, when Chicago linebacker Danny Trevathan knocked him out. Adams was taken off the field on a gurney and spent the night in the hospital but returned for the next game. Trevathan served a one-game suspension.
An NFL spokesman said that Davis' hit will be reviewed for potential discipline.
"If you see Thomas' reaction to the hit that he made, you know that it wasn't intentional to hit him that way," Panthers coach Ron Rivera said Monday. "It was intentional that he wanted to block him, and I just take it from the way he reacted he did not intend to hit him high or in the head.
"Unfortunately, that's the result, and we'll see what the league has to say at that point.''
Asked if he thought Davis might be suspended, Rivera said "there's a chance."
"Again, the intent was not there. There wasn't any showboating or taunting. In fact, I know on the bench he was upset about it," he said.
Adams is in the final year of his rookie contract and could be one of the top receivers on the free-agent market this offseason. He leads the Packers with 74 catches for 885 yards and 10 touchdowns.
ESPN's David Newton contributed to this report.