Devondre Campbell will not be playing for the 49ers again after he left the team during a Thursday Night Football game, as expected. Head coach Kyle Shanahan told reporters the organization was just “evaluating the implications” of Campbell’s departure. .
“I mean, you heard from me last night, you heard from our players, you heard about his actions during the game, but that’s not something you can do to your own team or your teammates, and yet we… It’s about being a part of this team,” Shanahan said. Friday reporters. “We are currently working out the exact semantics of that, but we will address the situation as appropriate.”
It all started in the third quarter of San Francisco’s 12-6 loss to the Rams, when Campbell told the coaching staff he no longer wanted to play and left the field — standing on the sideline — and walked toward the locker room. , everything unfolded.
Linebacker Dre Greenlaw, who injured his Achilles tendon in the Super Bowl, returned Thursday, but as a result, Campbell did not record any snaps.
But when the 49ers needed Campbell in the third quarter, Shanahan said he knew then that the nine-year veteran — who was named to the Packers’ All-Pro first team in 2021 — didn’t want to play anymore. .
“We needed a linebacker who could start in Dre’s place until Dre comes back,” Shanahan said. “We didn’t know how long it was going to be. I think he had his ups and downs throughout the year. I thought he started off slow. He played well with our defense and the plays we expect from people.” I thought I got more used to it, and I thought I grew throughout the year.”
After the game, Campbell was criticized by his teammates, with cornerback Charvarius Ward predicting Campbell would “probably get cut right away” and tight end George Kittle slamming the linebacker’s move. did.
“That’s just stupid. That’s just stupid. So immature,” Kittle told reporters. “I don’t understand how someone could do something like that to their team.”
It was the 49ers’ fourth loss in five games, and at 6-8, the reigning NFC champions are struggling to even make it to the postseason.
San Francisco is scheduled to play the Dolphins next weekend before hosting the Lions, but the depth of the defense will likely be different in both games and others this season.
Campbell’s decision on Thursday certainly suggested that was the case, and Shanahan’s comments the next day solidified it.
“It was very easy to see him and then we just kind of moved on with our lives,” Shanahan said when talking about the third quarter with Campbell, according to ESPN.
