The San Francisco 49ers have suspended linebacker De’Vondre Campbell for three games (the remainder of the regular season) after he refused to enter his team’s game in the third quarter of a 12-6 loss to the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday night. Campbell, 31, was originally drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in 2016. He has played for the Falcons, Arizona Cardinals and Green Bay Packers before joining the 49ers this year on a one-year deal.
NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport was first to report: “The #49ers are planning to suspend LB De’Vondre Campbell three games, ending his season, after Campbell refused to go into the game on Thursday night. Coach Kyle Shanahan had said, “His actions from the game is just not something you can do to your team.”
49ers president of football operations and general manager John Lynch said in a statement issued Monday: “We have suspended De’Vondre Campbell for three games due to conduct detrimental to the team. We will have no further comment on the matter.”
Campbell’s decision not to play angered coach Kyle Shanahan and many of his teammates, who said on Friday: “It’s not something you can do to your team or your teammates and still get to be a part of our team.” Shanahan added: “You guys heard from our players. His actions from the game is not something you can do to your team or your teammates and still expect to be a part of our team.”
Shanahan said that Campbell refused when asked to check in for linebacker Dre Greenlaw in the third quarter. Campbell had started 12 games this season, but was replaced in the starting lineup Thursday when Greenlaw returned from injury: “He said he didn’t want to play today,” said Shanahan, adding that it was the first time in his head coaching career that a player refused to play when asked.
49ers tight end George Kittle said of Campbell: “That is one person who decided not to play for his teammates. It’s one person making a selfish decision. … I’ve never been around anybody that’s ever done that. And I hope I’m never around anybody that does that again.”
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