NFL teams
Rob Demovsky, ESPN Staff Writer 1y

Packers' Quay Walker ejected for shoving Lions medical staffer

NFL, Green Bay Packers, Detroit Lions

GREEN BAY, Wis. -- For the second time this season, Green Bay Packers rookie linebacker Quay Walker has been ejected for unsportsmanlike conduct.

Walker was thrown out of Sunday night's regular-season finale with 7:24 left after he shoved Detroit Lions team physician T. Sean Lynch, who was tending to injured running back D'Andre Swift on the field.

On Monday, Walker tweeted an apology for his actions, writing: "I want to apologize publicly about what happened Sunday night. 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," he added and then apologized to the Lions and their entire training staff in another tweet. 

Shortly after Walker posted the lengthy apology on Twitter, he informed reporters in the locker room at Lambeau Field on Monday that he had spoken on the phone to the Lynch and apologized for his actions. He also said he met Monday morning with Packers coach Matt LaFleur and members of the team's front office.

"I apologized to them as well because that reflects on them," Walker said. "It always comes back to the head coach and everything like that. This is a problem I never had, but I done it twice this year, so it's something I can't do and I really understand that and that's pretty much it. I apologized to them and of course I got the correct words from him, what I need to do to avoid those situations."

An NFL spokesperson did not immediately respond when asked whether Walker would face a fine and/or suspension.

"Just got to work on controlling my emotions," Walker said. "It's just a fault that I have. I'm human just like everybody else. I make mistakes; this just happens to be one that I made twice. But just got to learn from them."

Fellow Packers rookie Devonte Wyatt also could be subject to discipline for his role in the incident. Wyatt bumped Lynch after Walker's shove, but Walker was not penalized.

It was an unpenalized forearm to the head of Swift by Packers defensive tackle Jarran Reed that caused the stoppage in play.

The penalty gave the Lions a first-and-goal at the Packers' 5-yard line. Three plays later, Lions running back Jamaal Williams scored on a 1-yard run to give Detroit a 20-16 lead with 5:55 left.

Green Bay never recovered, as Aaron Rodgers was intercepted on the ensuing possession and Detroit then moved downfield and converted a key fourth-down pass that enabled the Lions to run out the clock. The 20-16 loss prevented the Packers from getting into the playoffs in what was a win-and-get-in season finale for them.

It was the second time this season Walker has been ejected. He was tossed from the game at Buffalo on Oct. 30 when he shoved a non-uniformed player on the Bills' sideline.

"I've got a much higher standard for our players than to do silly things like that," LaFleur said after Sunday's game. "I mean, we've had a guy get ejected twice. I don't think I've ever seen that in my career, and we've got to be much more mentally tough. Anytime our guys commit personal fouls, I take that very personally because I think that's always a reflection of myself and the standards that we set for these players. And we've got to be better, and we've got to learn from that, because that is unacceptable."

Walker is the only player since 2000 to be kicked out of a game multiple times in a single season, per ESPN Stats & Information research.

ESPN's Eric Woodyard contributed to this report.

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