Packers LB Quay Walker ejected after shoving Lions athletic trainer on the field

Green Bay linebacker Quay Walker was ejected in the fourth quarter of the Packers' loss to the Detroit Lions on Sunday night after he shoved a Lions athletic trainer.

Midway through the fourth quarter at Lambeau Field, Lions athletic training staff ran out onto the field to tend to running back D'Andre Swift, who was injured on a 2-yard run. As the athletic trainer tried to navigate through players to reach Swift, he brushed by Walker who then shoved him in the back, which drew the flag and an ejection.

The athletic trainer moved Walker out of the way slightly to get in so he could access Swift on the ground, but it was nothing out of the ordinary.

Several other players from both teams quickly stepped in to deescalate the situation while Walker didn't seem to understand why he was being penalized.

"That is unacceptable," Packers coach Matt LaFleuer said after the game. "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."

Walker has now been ejected twice this season. The former Georgia standout had seven total tackles when he was tossed.

The penalty kept the Lions drive moving and eventually led to a 1-yard touchdown run from Jamaal Williams, which gave Detroit a four-point lead late in the fourth quarter.

The Lions then held on to take the 20-16 win, which knocked the Packers out of playoff contention and gave the Lions a winning record for the first time since 2017.

While the Lions were in scoring position on that drive anyway, Walker's ejection didn't help. Late in a game with the playoffs on the line, that penalty couldn't have come at a worse time for the Packers.

Walked tweeted a heartfelt apology Monday morning. He acknowledged that he messed up in a way he has before, and was even more upset at himself for slipping up again. He also apologized to the Lions trainer he shoved.