Green Bay Packers news: It’s a big year ahead for sophomore linebacker Quay Walker. He did not exactly have an outstanding rookie campaign last term, especially considering how he holds the unwanted record of being the only player to have been ejected twice in a single season since 2000. Walker knows he’s earned a bit of a bad rep, but he’s not shying away from it.
Green Bay Packers News: Quay Walker Has Learned From His Mistakes
The 23-year-old recently spoke about his run-ins last season, and Walker got brutally honest with his self-reflection:
“To be honest with you, this entire offseason I thought about the two ejections,” Walker said Saturday at Packers training camp, via Rob Demovsky of ESPN. “It was hard giving myself grace on that, but at the same time, I’ve moved past it. The past is the past, and I’m just ready to move forward and just learn from it. Of course I can say that, but I have to do it by my actions. So I’m just ready to go from there.”
Walker now wants to put his past issues behind him, but obviously, this is easier said than done. As such, the former Georgia standout has sought the help of professionals as he looks to address his demons:
“I just talked to myself, meditating as well, talking to Dr. Carr, just being more open, just going from there,” Walker said. “I was a person that was real, real closed in, with all my thoughts and everything like that, with the stuff I had going on, but that ain’t really got anything to do with what took place. But those were the things I did over the offseason to prepare me to not make those same mistakes over again.”
As Walker implied in his statement above, he’s not trying to make any excuses. He’s merely explaining what he’s learned about himself in what was a very productive offseason for him — both on and off the field.
At the end of the day, however, this is all just talk. Walker will need to show whatever improvements he’s worked on when it matters the most. He’s going to be put to the test time and time again in 2023, and we shall see if he’s able to deliver on his bold promise.
Green Bay Packers News: Quay Walker Knows What to Expect
Perhaps the most important thing for Quay Walker here is that he’s accepted his mistakes. He knows that he was at fault and he’s done everything he can to move past his past errors.
The Packers LB is also well aware of the fact that opposing teams might use this to their advantage. Given his rep, it wouldn’t be surprising if other teams target him with their savage trash-talking and antics. Walker will be ready:
“I know most teams will label me a hothead, so I kind of am already preparing for what’s going to happen and things like that,” he said. “So I’ve just got to be ready for everything that’s going to come. I know it’s going to come Week 1, with it being a rivalry game [against the Bears]. Every week, teams will try to go at me, so I’m already preparing for it.”
As he said, Green Bay’s Week 1 matchup against the Chicago Bears is going to be an excellent test to see the new and improved Quay Walker.
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