Murphy’s Law has seemingly been in effect for the San Francisco 49ers ever since training camp, and the latest blow came in the form of a selfish act this past Thursday.
Playing against the Los Angeles Rams, the Niners welcomed back star linebacker Dre Greenlaw, who had torn his Achilles in last season’s Super Bowl and had an excellent first half.
But when he couldn’t play in the second half due to Achilles discomfort, De’Vondre Campbell, who had filled in for him all season, was asked to replace him, and Campbell refused.
Wide receiver Deebo Samuel didn’t hold back, and he said he had never seen something like what Campbell did, per Bleacher Report.
“Never seen no s–t like that happen before… You got guys that’ve dealt with real life s–t… They came back, did everything they could possibly do to get back out there,” Samuel said.
Deebo Samuel reacts to De'Vondre Campbell situation:
"Never seen no s–t like that happen before… You got guys that've dealt with real life s–t… They came back, did everything they could possibly do to get back out there"
(via Cleats and Convos with Deebo Samuel) pic.twitter.com/X512nieIao
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) December 19, 2024
Campbell had already been a disappointment in 13 prior games and 12 starts, even though he had been named to the All-Pro First Team as recently as 2021 while with the Green Bay Packers.
His refusal to enter Thursday’s game came in stark contrast to a culture of unselfishness and accountability the Niners have built over the past several years under head coach Kyle Shanahan.
They have suffered through a massive rash of injuries and other types of misfortune dating back to the summer, yet many players have shown resilience and even defiance in the face of such adversity.
San Francisco has suspended Campbell for the rest of the season, and it is a safe bet that he will not stay in the Bay.