49ers suspend linebacker Campbell for rest of the regular season

Linebacker De’Vondre Campbell has been suspended by the San Francisco 49ers for the last three games of the regular season after refusing to play against the Los Angeles Rams.

The 49ers were playing the Rams at home Thursday night when starting linebacker Dre Greenlaw exited the game in the third quarter. Campbell, his backup, refused to play, gave no reason for doing so, and decamped for the locker room shortly thereafter, according to NFL.com.

“We have suspended De’Vondre Campbell Sr. for three games due to conduct detrimental to the team. We will have no further comment on the matter,” 49ers President John Lynch, himself a former safety and member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, said in a statement Monday.

The 49ers went on to lose to their NFC West rivals and, while not mathematically eliminated from playoff contention, sit in fourth place in the division at 6-8, with only the slimmest of chances.

Campbell’s locker has since been cleaned out, his nameplate and personal items removed, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.

Campbell’s teammates were stunned, even after signs before the game that the linebacker was dissatisfied with having to be a backup in the game.

Greenlaw was making his first start all season after having torn his Achilles tendon in Super Bowl 58 earlier this year.

“In the locker room before the game, I heard some complaining. I was going to say something. I didn’t because I didn’t want to create more of a distraction. But I kind of felt it,” defensive end Nick Bosa said, according to the Chronicle.

“So, yeah, I kind of saw the foreshadowing, but I definitely didn’t think it was going to result in that,” the All-Pro pass rusher said.

Deommodore Lenoir had harsher words, saying that he “just lost all respect.”

“I’m a person that’s going 110% every play. If I am hurt and the guy behind me is not backing me up and can’t come in or don’t want to go in, I just feel like he’s a cancer to the team,” the cornerback said, according to ESPN 49ers beat reporter Nick Wagoner.

Campbell will not be paid for the final three weeks of the regular season, though the 49ers would have to make a decision on his status if they win their remaining three games and get a lot of help to squeak into the playoffs.

The suspension will cost Campbell more than $800,000, according to Front Office Sports.

If the 49ers had instead cut Campbell, he would have gone to waivers and possibly been picked up by another team. His release would also leave the 49ers on the hook for his salary for the rest of the season.