San Francisco 49ers cornerback Deomodore Lenoir took fire at teammate Devondre Campbell last week after the linebacker was suspended for refusing to play.
The 49ers suspended Campbell for three games as a result of the incident. Lenoir didn't hold back when asked Monday for his thoughts on that.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
San Francisco 49ers cornerback Deomodore Lenoir, No. 2, appears before the start of the game against the Los Angeles Rams at Levi's Stadium on December 12, 2024 in Santa Clara, California. (Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images)
“When we first signed him, I thought in my head we were getting another player who could contribute defensively,” Lenoir said, via NBC Sports Bay Area. “I lost all respect for something like that to happen and for him to do something like that.”
Campbell was called up to the team in the offseason as fellow linebacker Dre Greenlaw recovered from a torn Achilles tendon suffered in the Super Bowl.
Greenlaw returned to action Thursday night against the Los Angeles Rams, but began feeling pain in his Achilles tendon in the third quarter. When the 49ers asked Campbell to play in the game, he refused.
Former NFL star suggests Patrick Mahomes will play in playoffs on Chiefs bench after ankle injury
San Francisco 49ers linebacker Devondre Campbell (uniform number 59) plays during an NFL football game against the New England Patriots on September 29, 2024 in Santa Clara, California. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vasquez, File)
Lenoir said he thought it was “crazy” to quit the team while it was in the trenches.
“I would never want to be in a game like that. My love for the game was too strong, my pride was too high to even tell my coach that I wasn't going to play,” Lenoir said. “I'm a guy who gives 110% on every play. So if I'm injured and the players behind me aren't supporting me and I can't get in or don't want to get in, that's fine. I feel like I'm blaming myself.''It's a cancer for the team. ”
This year has been such a year for San Francisco. The team had high expectations for the season after re-signing Christian McCaffrey and Brandon Aiyuk. However, the turmoil of the offseason spilled over into the regular season, and losses piled up.
San Francisco 49ers cornerback No. 2 Deomodore Lenoir stretches before the start of a game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Levi's Stadium on October 20, 2024 in Santa Clara, California. (Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images)
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
The 49ers are currently 6-8 and on the brink of missing the playoffs for the first time since the 2020 season.
Follow sports coverage on Fox News Digital's X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
