A day after refusing to enter San Francisco’s 12-6 loss to the Los Angeles Rams, the 49ers gave each indiction that they’re planning to half methods with linebacker De’Vondre Campbell Sr.
When requested on a convention name Friday if he anticipated Campbell can be on the staff in Week 16 and past, coach Kyle Shanahan mentioned, “No, I don’t.” Earlier in his availability, Shanahan mentioned the staff was “working by means of the semantics of precisely how we’ll cope with it” and that “we’ll deal with the state of affairs appropriately.”
GO DEEPER
49ers’ De’Vondre Campbell refuses to play, quits TNF recreation in third quarter
Campbell advised the staff he didn’t wish to play and left the sector within the third quarter of Thursday’s night time recreation, coach Kyle Shanahan mentioned after the sport. Shanahan added that Campbell didn’t present a cause for his refusal to enter the sport on Thursday and has not contacted the coach to clarify his choice. The Athletic reached out to Campbell’s agent Friday however has not heard again.
The 49ers had wished Campbell to interchange Dre Greenlaw, who left the sport on account of knee and Achilles soreness. Greenlaw was taking part in for the primary time since tearing his Achilles within the Super Bowl and was anticipated to play restricted snaps. Greenlaw changed Campbell within the beginning lineup after the veteran began 12 of the primary 13 video games.
After the sport, a number of of Campbell’s teammates expressed their displeasure with the linebacker’s choice.
“He’s knowledgeable, he’s been taking part in for a very long time. If he didn’t wish to play, he shouldn’t have dressed out,” cornerback Charvarius Ward mentioned. “He may’ve advised ’em that earlier than the sport. So I really feel like that was some sucker s— that he did. Definitely damage the staff, ’trigger Dee (Winters) went down and we wanted a linebacker. And I believe (Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles) was banged up too, so for him to try this, that’s some sucker stuff to me, for my part. He’s most likely going to get reduce quickly.”
Tight finish George Kittle didn’t know what occurred with Campbell till after the sport and was upset by the transfer.
“Look, if you happen to’re on the roster and also you go well with up, you’re anticipated to play,” Kittle mentioned. “I believe anybody on this constructing that received requested to go in, I might say 100% of all people would die to get on that soccer area. And so, , individuals undergo random issues off the sector. I can’t converse on that. Whatever his choice was, it wasn’t for this group, it wasn’t for this staff. And that’s on him. I’m not very pleased about it.
“I want I might’ve heard about it on the sector, however I didn’t. Now, is that the rationale we misplaced? Absolutely not. But it’s onerous to win soccer video games when any person doesn’t wish to play soccer, particularly if you’re suited up.”
Campbell signed with the 49ers within the offseason after spending the previous three seasons with the Green Bay Packers. He’s tallied 79 whole tackles in 13 video games this season. The 31-year-old has performed for 4 groups (49ers, Packers, Arizona Cardinals and Atlanta Falcons) in his nine-year profession and was a first-team All-Pro in 2021 with Green Bay.
How does this impression the 49ers’ depth chart at LB?
Campbell’s departure will bump up younger linebacker Dee Winters within the pecking order as soon as he recovers from the neck damage that knocked him out of Thursday’s recreation. That changeover already had begun in Sunday’s win over the Chicago Bears and should have been the reason for Campbell’s irritation. Campbell began the Bears recreation, however Winters took over his spot throughout stretches within the second half. That additionally occurred again in Week 3 in opposition to the Los Angeles Rams, drawing frustration from Campbell on the time, however Winters received damage in that contest and Campbell retained his beginning job.
Moving ahead this season, the 49ers’ high two linebackers shall be Fred Warner and Greenlaw, who might not be fairly prepared for a full complement of snaps following his return from a torn Achilles tendon, and Winters will fill in for him as wanted. The 49ers can also promote a linebacker from the observe squad, Jalen Graham or DaShaun White, to take Campbell’s spot on the 53-man roster.
The greater results of the Campbell incident could also be certainly one of angle. His exit Thursday drew robust reactions from his soon-to-be ex-teammates, a lot of whom have performed by means of accidents or, within the case of Ward, following a private tragedy. Kittle famous what number of younger gamers and aspiring gamers “would die to be on that soccer area.” With solely three video games left and a playoff berth unlikely, the 49ers mentioned they might use the rest of the season to seek out out who really wished to be on the staff. Which is to say, whereas there was some resignation following Thursday’s loss to the Rams, Campbell’s exit additionally appeared to spark loads of combat. — Matt Barrows, 49ers beat author
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(Photo:Neville E. Guard/ Imagn Images)
