Quay Walker was having one of the best games of his budding career in Week 18. The Green Bay Packers needed all of it.
The rookie inside linebacker had helped patch a leaky run defense, helping to hold an explosive Detroit Lions offense to only 13 points through three quarters of a game the Packers needed to win in order to qualify for the NFL Playoffs. Then, with one immensely stupid decision, his night was over.
Walker, at the tail end of a play in which Detroit tailback D’Andre Swift was injured and needed assistance, took umbrage to a Lions’ trainer’s attempt to move him out of the way in order to get to the downed back. And that’s when Walker decided to shove a medical staffer who was only trying to do his job.
Quay Walker is the only player in the NFL to be ejected twice this season and yep he earned it pic.twitter.com/LfjORzoVYO
— Christian D'Andrea (@TrainIsland) January 9, 2023
The play wasn’t just immensely stupid, it also gifted the Lions a free first-and-goal situation at the Green Bay five-yard line. Two plays later, former Packer Jamaal Williams crashed into the end zone for a touchdown that gave the Lions a 20-16 lead and threatened to crush the home team’s playoff hopes.
In the harsh light of Monday morning, Walker reflected on his ejection and took responsibility for a massive mistake in the most important game of the season.
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!!
— Quay (@QuayWalker_) January 9, 2023
As expected, fans took to Twitter to absolutely pillory the linebacker responsible for one of the dumbest plays of the year.
Quay Walker just got booted for shoving a trainer, go Dawgs
— BUM CHILLUPS AKA SPENCER HALL (@edsbs) January 9, 2023
Quay Walker shoved a trainer and it is the 14th ejection of the season, and HIS SECOND. According to @QuirkyResearch, Walker is the first player to be ejected twice in a season since Tyji Armstrong (1994 Bucs)
🔗https://t.co/49jzS1sCRx pic.twitter.com/OXSYtzVHxG— Fᴏᴏᴛʙᴀʟʟ Zᴇʙʀᴀs🇺🇦 (@footballzebras) January 9, 2023
This is one of the dumbest things you’ll ever see in a football game.
Quay Walker shoved the athletic trainer and was ejected.
pic.twitter.com/SdgEUSBb5C— Fantasy Football Today (@FFToday) January 9, 2023
Quay Walker loves getting ejected. But more importantly, on a week like this, how do you disrespect an athletic trainer!? Just dumb, absolutely dumb. An unfathomable level of insensitivity and stupidity.
— Emmanuel Acho (@EmmanuelAcho) January 9, 2023
Quay Walker should get tossed from the game.
— David Fucillo (@davidfucillo) January 9, 2023
Quay Walker absolutely deserves to be ejected for this.
100% classless. pic.twitter.com/Ya7gdBwfB4
— Doug Rush (@TheDougRush) January 9, 2023
Quay Walker is the only player in the NFL to be ejected twice this season and both times were for shoving a member of the other team’s training staff.
Incredible. pic.twitter.com/Mk8wHtb9kL
— Mike Beauvais (@MikeBeauvais) January 9, 2023
Quay Walker getting ejected twice in one season for shoving opposing coaches is an unbreakable NFL record lmao
— Mike Renner (@PFF_Mike) January 9, 2023
Quay Walker read the room challenge pic.twitter.com/5aDiIljFG9
— Kendra Middleton (@KenniMiddleton) January 9, 2023
we just saw an athletic trainer literally bring damar hamlin back to life on the field 6 days ago. and quay walker shoves the athletic trainer out of the way while he’s trying to do his job. shameful pic.twitter.com/3vI6ce9dx7
— johnny trash (@theMATThatter__) January 9, 2023
Quay Walker VERY UPSET Heading Back To The Locker Room 🙏🏽 pic.twitter.com/gTHWTWmgMy
— NFL Daily (@SportsContent23) January 9, 2023
Quay Walker's business is "shoving random staffers who are minding their own business and doing their jobs" and business is booming. https://t.co/yD0vZLCP7F
— Kevin Clark (@bykevinclark) January 9, 2023
Quay Walker
Habitual line-stepper pic.twitter.com/ZalDoHI4xR
— Ryan Noonan (@RyNoonan) January 9, 2023
The @Lions medical staffer squared up to Quay Walker 😂
The whole Lions team is really about it pic.twitter.com/dIXew1QKZd
— Jake Crain (@JakeCrain_) January 9, 2023
Quay Walker is acting like a 5 year old who got in trouble after hitting their sibling for no reason.
Is he serious?
— Michelle Magdziuk (@BallBlastEm) January 9, 2023
