LB Campbell quits on 49ers during loss to Rams
De’Vondre Campbell did not want to play football on Thursday night, so he told 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan how he felt, then left Levi’s Stadium.
Shanahan was asked in his postgame media session why Campbell went to the locker room in the third quarter of the 49ers’ 12-6 loss to the Rams.
“Yeah, he said he didn’t want to play today,” Shanahan said.
Shanahan told reporters that he asked Campbell if he wanted to go into the game in the third quarter to spell returning starter Dre Greenlaw, and Campbell declined without giving a reason.
Campbell was not in the locker room postgame when reporters were allowed in to speak to players.
Shanahan said he did not know immediately whether the team would release Campbell, a 31-year-old former All-Pro who signed with the 49ers in March after being released by Green Bay.
Cornerback Charvarius Ward said Campbell shouldn’t have dressed for the game if he wasn’t ready to play.
“He definitely hurt the team because Dee (Winters) went down and we needed a linebacker,” Ward said. “I think (Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles) was banged up too, so for him to do that, that’s some sucker stuff to me to do that. He’s probably going to get cut soon, so it is what it is with that.”
Tight end and captain George Kittle expressed faith in his teammates’ drive to play despite Campbell’s decision.
“I think anyone in this building that got asked to go in, I would say 100% of everybody would die to get on that football field,” tight end and captain George Kittle said. “People are going through random things off the field. I can’t speak on that. … It’s hard to win football games when someone doesn’t want to play football, especially when you’re suited up. That kind of puts you down, especially when you’re down two linebackers.”
Team captains Fred Warner and Nick Bosa declined to comment about Campbell quitting when asked postgame.
Campbell has been the subject of media scrutiny for his play filling in for the speedy, hard-hitting Greenlaw, who missed the first 13 games of this season after tearing his Achilles in the Super Bowl. He has 79 tackles, 44 solo this season.
Shanahan said he was not concerned about losing buy-in from other players after Campbell quit.
“We haven’t lost anybody,” Shanahan said. “That’s somebody who doesn’t want to play football, it’s pretty simple.”
Dieter Kurtenbach contributed to this report.