In a surprising turn of events during Thursday night's game, San Francisco linebacker De'Vondre Campbell refused to enter the game in the third quarter after losing his starting position to Dre Greenlaw, who returned from an injury. Campbell, who had started 12 of the first 13 games of the season and played 90% of defensive snaps for the 49ers, was benched for the game against the Los Angeles Rams.
Greenlaw, who had been out due to a torn Achilles tendon since last season's Super Bowl, made a strong comeback with eight tackles in the first half. However, he left the game in the third quarter due to soreness in his Achilles tendon, prompting the need for Campbell to step in.
Coach Kyle Shanahan expressed his surprise at Campbell's refusal to enter the game, stating that he had never encountered such a situation in his coaching career. Shanahan mentioned that the team would need to address the issue moving forward.
Campbell's decision to walk to the locker room instead of playing left his teammates feeling bewildered and frustrated. Cornerback Charvarius Ward criticized Campbell's actions as selfish, emphasizing that it had a negative impact on the team's performance.
The 31-year-old Campbell, who signed a one-year, $5 million deal with the 49ers in the offseason after being released by the Green Bay Packers, had shown flashes of his talent this season but struggled with tackling and coverage. Tight end George Kittle echoed Ward's sentiments, labeling Campbell's decision as selfish and expressing his disappointment in the situation.
As the 49ers face playoff elimination with a 6-8 record, Campbell's actions have raised concerns within the team. The incident has highlighted the importance of professionalism and team commitment in the competitive environment of the NFL.
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