De’Vondre Campbell, a linebacker for the San Francisco 49ers, was in the limelight after Thursday Night Football, but not in the way the team or the fans would have wanted.
During the fourth quarter of a difficult 12-6 game against the Los Angeles Rams, Campbell was scheduled to play. When Dre Greenlaw came back from an Achilles injury that he got in the Super Bowl last season, Campbell was lower in the depth chart. Head coach Kyle Shanahan, however, had planned to rotate Campbell in whenever Greenlaw needed a break due to pain.
That opportunity came when Greenlaw signaled he needed rest. And on top of that, linebacker Dee Winters was out with a neck injury, so Campbell’s availability was especially important in terms of playing time. However instead of rising to the occasion on that day Campbell refused to perform, he left the field, walked to the dressing room with a towel on his head.
The situation was reminiscent of Antonio Brown’s departure in 2022 but Campbell’s departure was not as dramatic. Nonetheless, many people were shocked by the source of offence, especially Campbell, who was a rather experienced player. He has been a steady producer since joining the NFL in 2016 and has made 79 tackles for the 49ers this year. Who did he think he was that one with such experience and such a reputation would leave in the middle of the game?
Shanahan, as well as other players such as George Kittle and Charvarius Ward, did not hide their anger.
“When someone says they don’t want to play, you move on,” Shanahan said. That is a player who does not wish to be on the field. It’s simple. The team and I know how we feel about it, so there’s no reason to dwell on him anymore.”
Kittle expressed disbelief over Campbell’s decision, calling it selfish and unprecedented.
“I’ve never seen anything like this before, and I hope I never have to see it again,” Kittle stated.
Ward accepted the effect on the team and said that Campbell’s decision not to play “affected us.”
For the 49ers, a season that has been full of misfortunes appears to be worsening at the worst time. Campbell’s decision only adds to the disruption that has surrounded the team for a while now.
