The San Francisco 49ers suspended linebacker De’Vondre Campbell for three games, which would put an end to the defensive player’s season, after the nine-year veteran refused to enter Thursday night’s game against the Los Angeles Rams, NFL Network reported.
Head coach Kyle Shanahan explained that Campbell told him that he did not want to play in the game against an NFC West rival when he was called in the third quarter. Campbell subsequently left the field and headed to the locker room at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, The Post reported.
The problem arose after the 31-year-old lost his starting job due to the return of Dre Greenlaw, who then injured himself in the same NFL Thursday night game.
The 49ers had also lost Dee Winters to a back injury.
“His actions in the game are just not something you can do to your team,” Shanahan said, adding that he has never been in that position as a head coach.
The team opted not to cut Campbell for financial reasons, while Campbell would lose more than $266,000 due to the suspension.
Campbell’s teammates’ furious reaction
San Francisco tight end George Kittle and cornerback Charvarius “Mooney” Ward explained their frustration with Campbell after the 12-6 loss to the Rams.
“It’s just silly. It’s just stupid. It’s very immature,” Kittle said. “I just don’t see how you can do something like that to your team. I’ve never been around anyone who’s done that and I hope I’m not around anyone who does it again.”
Ward said Campbell refusing to play was “bullshit” and that it “hurt the team” because the 49ers were short of a player in that position.
Campbell has yet to address the incident and his suspension.
The 49ers signed Campbell to a one-year contract as an unrestricted free agent in March after three seasons with the Green Bay Packers.
