SANTA CLARA — General manager John Lynch talked about his decision to banish De’Vondre Campbell from the sideline after the veteran linebacker said he didn’t want to play in a 12-6 loss to the Los Angeles Rams.
Campbell was suspended for the final three games of the season. Players and coach Kyle Shanahan addressed the issue in its immediate aftermath on Dec. 12.
With linebacker Dre Greenlaw returning to action and Dee Winters assuming the backup role in the base defense, Campbell was essentially demoted to No. 3. He was needed, however, when Greenlaw’s knee tightened at halftime and Winters sustained a neck injury.
“We had a little signal going in that his energy wasn’t right,” Lynch said Friday during his weekly appearance on KNBR-680. “Kyle had a conversation and we thought everything was going to be all right. It wasn’t, and you could see that right away during the game.”
Lynch said when it became clear to him that Campbell was declining to play and that teammates and coaches were involved in the mini-drama, he went to the field after halftime rather than late in the fourth quarter like usual.
“I finally just said I need to see what’s going on, and if what’s going on his what I think is going on, he needs to get off the field,” Lynch said. “That’s simply what it was and that’s how it ended up. It’s unfortunate. It’s nothing anyone wanted, but you can’t stand for that.
“We’re talking about finishing and having each other’s backs, and when you have something contrary to that, that’s not who we are, and that’s not who we’ll ever be.”
Campbell departed the field with a member of the 49ers’ support staff and was gone by the time the game was over.
Lynch said he didn’t know the reason Campbell declined to play.
“I don’t know and I don’t think I’ll ever find out,” Lynch said. “He’s no longer here and we’ll move forward.”