In an inexplicable move, San Francisco 49ers linebacker De’Vondre Campbell refused to go into the game against the Los Angeles Rams in the third quarter of Thursday’s game, walking off toward the locker room.
While Campbell’s refusal to play remains a story without an ending, his decision may have not only ended the 49ers’ season, but possibly propelled the Rams into the playoffs.
Before Campbell was called into service, the 49ers were operating with a linebacker rotation of Fred Warner, Dre Greenlaw, and Dee Winters. The trio, along with the rest of the defense, held the Rams to just three points and just three first downs midway through the third quarter.
It was at that point that Greenlaw would exit the game with 7:12 remaining after helping to bring down Blake Corum. He would not return. Dee Winters was also hurt and was unable to go back in.
Campbell was the next man up but his defiance forced the 49ers to deploy a banged-up Demetrius Flanagan-Fowles during a critical drive for the Rams. Not only was Flanagan-Fowles hurt, but he’s a rotational player who hasn’t seen a whole lot of defensive snaps this season compared to Campbell. Before the game, Flanagan-Fowles had 11 total tackles on the season.
With Campbell having thrown in the towel, the Niners had to step out of their base nickel defense and go into a single-high safety look that brought Talanoa Hufanga into the box. As a result of these unforeseen defensive adjustments, the Rams would proceed to score nine unanswered points, entering the red zone on three straight drives.
The Rams also targeted the interior via Puka Nacua. With an already injured Flanagan-Fowles and Warner, the Niners had no chance. Campbell was already playing at a poor level but his absence doomed what was a winning effort by San Francisco.
While an incredibly lucky sequence of events for the Rams may have gifted them the path to victory, perhaps it’s Los Angeles’ emphasis on bringing in players that fit their culture that has propelled them to a Super Bowl victory, while the 49ers – despite their consistent success – have failed to win a title since 1995.
If Campbell’s departure wasn’t evidence enough of his character, the vocal outcries of teammates Charvarius Ward and George Kittle calling for his removal from the team have sealed Campbell’s future in the bay.
The Rams took advantage of a tough situation for the 49ers and are now in the driver’s seat in the NFC West.