The 49ers’ loss to the Rams on Thursday night was overshadowed in part by the bizarre refusal of linebacker De’Vondre Campbell to play.
Several players addressed the situation after the 12-6 loss, including veteran tight end George Kittle.
“I’m a leader on the team, and if that is something that is being a distraction on the sideline, I would’ve loved to voice my own opinion in the moment,” Kittle said, via Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com. “And we’re past that moment. So, it doesn’t matter what I wish I could have said or wish I could have done, but I don’t like distractions on the sideline. I think that’s ignorant. And I think it’s just dumb. It’s just stupid, and it’s very immature. I just don’t see how you could do something like that to your team. . . .
“It’s one person making a selfish decision. I’ve never been around anybody that’s ever done that, and I hope I’m never around anybody who does that again.”
Campbell had played in all prior 13 regular-season games, with 12 starts, as the replacement for Dre Greenlaw, who returned on Thursday night.
It’s hard to imagine Campbell being accepted in the locker room. Which might make keeping him around for the final three games an even more effective punishment than cutting him.
The more likely outcome is that he’ll be suspended for conduct detrimental to the team, the same way the Ravens suspended receiver Diontae Johnson for refusing to enter a Week 13 game against the Eagles. That will allow the 49ers to keep one or more game checks, while also giving them the right to recover some of his $3.35 million signing bonus.
