The 49ers' George Kittle calls his teammate “selfish” for quitting during the game

The San Francisco 49ers' disappointing season has gone from bad to worse.

During the team's decisive matchup against the Los Angeles Rams on Monday, December 12, the fullback appeared DeFonder Campbell He was asked to enter the game in the third quarter.

However, Campbell (31 years old) refused to take the field.

In the fourth quarter, Campbell — currently in his ninth NFL season and first with the 49ers — was seen leaving the field with a towel over his head.

“He said he didn't want to play today,” the 49ers coach said Kyle Shanahan He told reporters after the match.

The 49ers, ravaged by injuries all season, had planned to insert Campbell into the game in place of the injured. Dre GreenlawWho left the match due to knee pain. Greenlaw, 27, made his first appearance since injuring his Achilles tendon on the sidelines of the Super Bowl in February.

The 49ers' plan clearly didn't sit well with Campbell, who was accosted by his teammates in the locker room after the game.

“I'm a leader on the team, and if that's something that's distracting you on the sideline, I wanted to voice my opinion right now,” 49ers tight end George Kittle He told reporters. “We're past that moment. So, no matter what I wish I could say or wish I did, but I don't like being distracted on the sidelines. I think that's ignorant. I think it's just stupid. It's just very stupid and immature. I don't see how you can You do something like that for your team.”

Kittle, 31, added: “It's one person making a selfish decision. I've never been around anyone who did that before, and I hope I never will be around anyone who does again.

The candid sentiment shared by Kittle was shared by the 49ers cornerback Charvarius Suite.

“He's a professional,” Ward, 28, told reporters. “He's been playing for a long time. If he didn't want to play, he shouldn't have dressed. He could have told them that before the game. I feel like that was kind of stupid – he did that. It definitely hurt the team.”

“He'll probably be circumcised soon, that's what it is about that,” Ward added.

The 49ers did not immediately announce any disciplinary action for Campbell. When Shanahan, 44, was asked if Campbell would be released, he said: “We'll figure something out.”

San Francisco lost 12-6 to Los Angeles, effectively eliminating their hopes of making the playoffs just one season after going to overtime in the Super Bowl against the Kansas City Chiefs.