De'Vondre Campbell made headlines for refusing to play during the San Francisco 49ers' "Thursday Night Football" game against the Los Angeles Rams. Campbell, a veteran linebacker, informed head coach Kyle Shanahan that he did not want to play when he was asked to enter the game in the third quarter after starting linebacker Dre Greenlaw left due to soreness in his Achilles tendon. This incident occurred during a game where the 49ers lost 12-6, which significantly impacted their playoff hopes.
Campbell had been a regular starter for the 49ers throughout the season, starting 12 out of the first 13 games and playing 90% of defensive snaps. However, with Greenlaw's return from injury, Campbell was benched, which might have contributed to his decision not to play.
The reaction from his teammates was largely negative, with comments from players like cornerback Charvarius Ward and tight end George Kittle describing Campbell's actions as "selfish." Ward expressed frustration, indicating that if Campbell did not want to play, he should not have put on a uniform, highlighting the impact on the team given the injuries to other linebackers. Similarly, Kittle emphasized the expectation for players to play when suited up, expressing disappointment and suggesting that Campbell's choice was not in line with team spirit.
Coach Shanahan noted that this was unprecedented in his coaching career, stating that when a player says they don't want to play, the team moves on from that. While Shanahan did not commit immediately to releasing Campbell, the consensus from reports and teammate reactions suggests that Campbell's tenure with the 49ers might be at risk following this incident.
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