49ers linebacker De’Vondre Campbell refused to play against Rams, a move blasted by teammates

San Francisco 49ers linebacker De’Vondre Campbell left the sidelines during his team’s season-crushing loss to the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday night, in an apparent refusal to play that drew jeers from teammates.

The veteran had been bumped from the starting line-up with return of previously injured Dre Greenlawbut when Greenlaw had to exit the game in the third quarter, Campbell declined to play, according to 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan.

“He said he didn’t want to play today,” Shanahan told reporters after the match.

It was not immediately clear whether Campbell would face any discipline or be cut from the team.

“We’ll figure something out, but I don’t know right now,” Shanahan said.

The coach insisted that Thursday night’s incident will not be an ongoing distraction.

“People notice it, but when someone says it, you move on,” he said. “You don’t deal with that anymore.”

Tight end George Kittle and cornerback Charvarius Ward, two of the team’s most respected players, vented their frustration at Campbell’s inaction.

“It’s hard to win football games when somebody doesn’t want to play football,” Kittle said. “I think it’s ignorant. And I think it’s just stupid. It’s just stupid and it’s very immature. I just don’t see how you could do something like that to your team.”

Ward said Campbell never should have put on a uniform if he didn’t want to play Thursday.

“It’s some sucka s—, it definitely hurt the team,” said Ward, playing in his third game since the death of his 1-year-old daughter. “He’ll probably be cut soon.”

Los Angeles The Rams defeated San Francisco12-6, virtually eliminating the defending NFC champion 49ers from the playoffs.

The 6-8 Niners have three games remaining and trail first-place Seattle (8-5) by 2 1/2 games. The loss to the Rams put San Francisco in the playoffs hope for less than 1%.

A representative for the National Football League Players Association could not immediately be reached for comment Friday.

The 49ers signed Campbell to a one-year deal in March as a substitute for Greenlaw, who tore his left Achilles tendon during the Super Bowl.