Packers have interesting plan for Quay Walker after multiple dustups last year

Quay Walker's offseason began early when he was ejected in Week 18 against Detroit after making contact with someone on the Lions' sideline. It was the second such incident for Walker during his rookie season and it left head coach Matt LaFleur furious.

"I have a much higher standard for our players than to do something silly like that," LaFleur said after the game. "We've had a guy ejected twice. I don't think I've ever seen that in my career. I take that very personally. It is unacceptable."

Per NFL.com, Green Bay linebacker coach Kirk Olivadotti had an interesting response when asked how to avoid a repeat in 2023.

"Play to the whistle, and then be so busy in between snaps that you don't even notice what else is going on because you're moving to the next play," said Olivadotti. That sounds nice, but how exactly are the Packers planning on keeping him busy?

Will they have him knit a sweater? Solve a Rubik's cube? They could probably find a bunch of fidget spinners at the local Goodwill. 

Olivadotti is more likely talking about Walker focusing on offensive substitutions, formations and defensive alignment. But in the heat of the moment, when Walker makes his first tackle on the opponents' sideline, Green Bay's coaching staff will hold their breaths.

The Packers are also working on ways to get more out of the former Georgia Bulldogs linebacker in his sophomore season, but how they plan to achieve that is as unclear as the plan to keep him from committing foolish post-snap penalties.

NFL.com notes pass rush specialist Jason Rebrovich wasn't willing to elaborate on plans for Walker on the field in 2023. Rebrovich was asked how Walker might expand his role as a pass rusher and replied, "Yes." 

Per data from Pro Football Focus, Walker played 846 defensive snaps last year but only rushed the passer 66 times, with 12 total pressures and 1.5 sacks. 

Ideally, Walker will have more sacks than sideline skirmishes in 2023. That's a bar most defenders clear with ease every season but will constitute a major improvement for Green Bay's 2022 first-round pick.