Santa Clara, California – The San Francisco 49ers suffered a 12-6 loss to the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday night, but the game was overshadowed by linebacker De’Vondre Campbell’s surprising refusal to play.
After the game, veteran tight end George Kittle expressed his disappointment with Campbell’s actions, emphasizing the negative impact it had on the team’s sideline. Campbell, who had previously played in all 13 regular-season games with 12 starts, found himself benched for the return of Dre Greenlaw.
Kittle, known as a leader on the team, condemned Campbell’s decision as selfish and immature, stating that distractions like these are detrimental to team unity. He voiced his frustration at not being able to address the situation in the moment, but emphasized the importance of moving past it.
The situation has left many questioning Campbell’s future with the 49ers, with some speculating that the team may choose to suspend him for conduct detrimental to the team. This action would allow the 49ers to withhold game checks and potentially recover part of Campbell’s signing bonus.