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San Francisco 49ers linebacker De’Vondre Campbell warms up before Thursday night’s game against the Rams in Santa Clara. He refused to enter the game in the third quarter and walked off the field. (Scot Tucker / Associated Press)
San Francisco 49ers linebacker De’Vondre Campbell was told to take the field during the third quarter of Thursday night’s game against the Rams while his teammates dealt with injuries.
Campbell refused — and at the end of the quarter, he headed to the locker room.
That could be the last time he’s seen in a 49ers uniform.
After a 12-6 loss that dropped the 49ers to 6-8 and all but ended their hopes for a repeat Super Bowl trip this season, coach Kyle Shanahan was asked by reporters what had happened with Campbell.
“He said he didn’t want to play today,” Shanahan said.
Read more: Rams’ grind-out win over 49ers is a step forward: ‘Games like this create a belief’
Shanahan added that Campbell had not provided that information to the team until that moment and did not give a reason for his decision.
Campbell, a nine-year veteran, was signed as a free agent during the offseason to play weakside linebacker while longtime starter Dre Greenlaw recovered from an Achilles injury he sustained during the Super Bowl in February. Campbell started at that position in all but one of the first 13 games, but Greenlaw got the nod Thursday night in his season debut.
Shanahan told reporters the plan had been for Campbell to enter the game for Greenlaw at some point. That opportunity seemed to arise in the third quarter, but Campbell had other ideas.
Star tight end George Kittle said after the game that Campbell had made “a selfish decision.”
“I’ve never been around anybody that’s ever done that,” Kittle said, “and I hope I’m never around anybody who does that again.”
Read more: Rams take big step toward playoffs by winning field-goal battle and sweeping 49ers
He added: “I don’t like distractions on the sideline. I think that’s ignorant, and I think it’s just…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/kyle-shanahan-says-devondre-campbell-183647760.html
Author : LA Times
Publish date : 2024-12-13 18:36:00
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