San Francisco 49ers linebacker De’Vondre Campbell is done with the team after refusing to enter the game on Thursday night.
Head coach Kyle Shanahan said the split was necessary based on Campbell’s actions. A starter in 12 of the first 13 games, Campbell went to the bench with the return of previous starter Dre Greenlaw.
It remains to be seen whether the 49ers place Campbell on waivers or find another means to move on, Shanahan confirmed Friday.
“I mean you guys heard from me last night, you guys heard from our players, his actions from the game, it’s not something you can do to your team or your teammates and still get to be a part of our team,” Shanahan said. “We’re working through exactly the semantics of it right now, but we’ll handle the situation appropriately.”
According to the coach, the 31-year-old Campbell said “he didn’t want to play today” when asked to enter the game in the third quarter against the visiting Los Angeles Rams. Greenlaw needed to be removed from the game because of foot soreness.
“I’ve never been around someone who quits on their team, and I hope I’m never around a guy like that again,” 49ers tight end George Kittle said Thursday night.
Greenlaw started at linebacker in Campbell’s spot against the Rams. It was Greenlaw’s first game since a ruptured Achilles in the Super Bowl.
Campbell was not in the locker room when the game ended but all of his belongings remained at his assigned space at Levi’s Stadium.
–Field Level Media
