De’Vondre Campbell will not be returning to the San Francisco 49ers after refusing to enter the game and walking off the field in the 49ers loss to the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday Night Football.
The 49ers announced that linebacker De’Vondre Campbell will not be with the team for the final three weeks of the season following his shocking mid-game exit against the Rams.
The incident has prompted speculation about Campbell’s future, with the 49ers holding options under the NFL’s Collective Bargaining Agreement to suspend him without pay for up to four games for conduct detrimental to the team. Alternatively, the team could waive Campbell, making him available for other teams to claim or sign.
Campbell, who joined the 49ers in March on a one year, $5 million contract, had been a key piece of the defense, starting 12 of the first 13 games and playing 90% of the team’s defensive snaps.
However, his role diminished on Thursday night when Dre Greenlaw returned to the lineup after recovering from a torn Achilles suffered in last season’s Super Bowl. Greenlaw’s presence relegated Campbell to the bench, marking a dramatic shift in his on-field responsibilities.
When Greenlaw experienced soreness in his Achilles during the third quarter, the 49ers attempted to insert Campbell back into the game, but he refused. Head coach Kyle Shanahan, visibly frustrated, stated, “I’ve never experienced anything like this in my time as a coach, whether as a head coach or assistant.”
Shortly after declining to play, Campbell left the field entirely, walking into the locker room with a towel over his head. Shanahan confirmed that he did not send Campbell to the locker room and still hasn’t received an explanation for the linebacker’s actions.
The timing of the incident couldn’t have been worse for San Francisco, as the 49ers are clinging to their playoff hopes. The loss to the Rams further jeopardized their postseason aspirations, with Campbell’s walkout adding another layer of controversy to an already challenging season.
For Campbell, the decision to walk off most certainly will mark the end of his time in San Francisco. While his on-field talent is undeniable, so too now is his lack of professionalism and lack of accountability to his craft and his teammates.
