San Francisco 49ers

The brother of former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo was not impressed on Thursday by Kyle Shanahan's coaching during the Niners' 12-6 defeat by the Los Angeles Rams.

Billy Garoppolo posted a photo of Shanahan to his Instagram story captioned "Offensive Guru," followed by a string of laughing emojis.

Jimmy Garoppolo’s brother posted this on Instagram 😬

H/T: @NastyBoyChase pic.twitter.com/OlyKChspcE

— Coach Yac 🗣 (@Coach_Yac) December 13, 2024

The 49ers were held to two field goals while the Rams scored four in the first NFL game of the 2024 season to not include a touchdown.

Shanahan, who is in his seventh season as the 49ers' head coach, previously worked with Garoppolo for five seasons between 2018 and 2022.

Garoppolo led the 49ers as far as the Super Bowl in 2020, but was intercepted on his final pass of the game as San Francisco lost to Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs.

The franchise took the first step toward moving on from Garoppolo the following spring, when the Niners traded up to draft quarterback Trey Lance in 2021.

By the end of the 2022 season, the team and quarterback's relationship had deteriorated to the point where Shanahan and the 49ers coaching staff believed Garoppolo "tuned them out" during the playoffs, according to The Athletic's Tim Kawakami.

Garoppolo hasn't found success as a starter outside San Francisco. He earned six starts before he was benched during his 2023 season with the Las Vegas Raiders, and has yet to play in 2024 while serving as a backup for the Los Angeles Rams.

The 49ers meanwhile returned to the Super Bowl in their first season without Garoppolo, but have collapsed this season with a 6-8 start that has them on the brink of official elimination from postseason contention heading into Week 15.

The loss to the Rams was highlighted by passing struggles. Brock Purdy was 0-for-7 with an interception on passes over 20 yards, per ESPN's Benjamin Solak. George Kittle, Jauan Jennings and Deebo Samuel meanwhile combined for nine catches on 23 targets.

The 49ers' postseason hopes could officially end with a Seattle Seahawks win on Sunday, but Shanahan will still look to focus on improving his team's passing offense going forward as Seattle prepares to make a potential long-term extension offer to Purdy this offseason.

It looks like De'Vondre Campbell's time with the San Francisco 49ers will come to an end.

The 31-year-old refused to enter the 49ers Week 15 game against the Los Angeles Rams and left the field during the fourth quarter. Following the game, 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan told reporters that he does not expect Campbell to play again this season.

Kyle Shanahan told reporters that he does not expect LB De'Vondre Campbell, who refused to enter Thursday night’s game, to play again for the 49ers this season. pic.twitter.com/vNCwzncuER

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 13, 2024

Campbell did not log a snap during the 12-6 loss to the Rams and had been relegated to reserve duty due to the return of All-Pro linebacker Dre Greenlaw to the lineup.

Campbell signed a one-year deal with the 49ers in March that has a cap hit of $2.2 million. He has registered 79 total tackles, three tackles for loss and one quarterback hit in 13 games thus far in 2024.

He is just a few seasons removed from being a first-team All-Pro but his main role this year was filling the hole left by Greenlaw's absence. While the 27-year-old finally returned on Thursday, he exited in the third quarter as a precaution due to some knee discomfort.

That's where Campbell could have made an impact and helped his team try to claim a divisional victory and improve its playoff chances. Instead, the defense was down another player and would fall to 6-8 on the season.

Campbell's decision was blasted by teammates and cornerback Charvarius Ward suggested that he will likely get cut. Shanahan's words about Campbell not likely returning makes that look like the decent assumption.

In the aftermath of a 12-6 loss to the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday night that all but ended any hope they had of making the playoffs, the San Francisco 49ers had to address questions about De'Vondre Campbell leaving the field because he didn't want to play in the game.

Speaking to reporters after the game, 49ers tight end George Kittle called Campbell's actions "dumb" and questioned how a player can do that to the rest of the team.

George Kittle on De'Vondre Campbell saying he won’t play.

“I just don’t see how you can do that to your team.” pic.twitter.com/bYx3BQh8ZH

— 95.7 The Game (@957thegame) December 13, 2024

Other 49ers players like Deommodore Lenoir and Charvarius Ward also called out Campbell for refusing to enter the game.

I call you brothers deeper than the surface, blood make us related loyalty make us family I’ll never quit on ma brother no matter what happen cut from a different cloth, It can be 50 vs 1 I’m standing on all 10

— Deommodore lenoir (@Dmo_lenoir) December 13, 2024

Here is the whole Mooney Ward exchange on De'Vondre Campbell refusing to go into the game tonight.

Mooney was brutally honest about a guy who appeared to quit on his team. #49ers | #FTTB pic.twitter.com/CT6zNcC4t1

— Matt Lively (@mattblively) December 13, 2024

Given how thin the 49ers were at linebacker against the Rams, Campbell was called on to enter the game in the third quarter. Head coach Kyle Shanahan revealed after the game he simply decided not to.

"He said he didn't want to play today," Shanahan told reporters.

The 49ers started the game with reinforcements at linebacker, as Dre Greenlaw made his first appearance since tearing his Achilles in the second quarter of Super Bowl 58.

Since it was the first time Greenlaw played in 10 months after a major injury, he was expected to be on a limited snap count. He wound up sitting out most of the second half with a sore knee. Dee Winters was also dealing with an ankle injury in practice this week and had a neck issue pop up during the game.

Campbell walked back to the locker room later in the quarter.

"People noticed, but when someone says that, you move on," Shanahan added. "That's somebody who doesn't want to play football. That's pretty simple. I think our team and myself, we know how we feel about that, so we don't need to talk about him anymore."

When asked if Campbell would be released, Shanahan didn't offer a direct answer. He said the team would "figure out something."

The 49ers signed Campbell to a one-year deal in the offseason to add depth at linebacker while they waited on Greenlaw to recover from his injury. The 31-year-old was the starter opposite Fred Warner for 12 of the first 13 games this season.

Greenlaw's return to the starting lineup on Thursday moved Campbell into a backup role, with Winters serving as the third linebacker.

Campbell ranks second on the team in combined tackles (79) and tied for second in solo tackles (44) this season.

San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan said that linebacker De'Vondre Campbell refused to play when asked to enter the third quarter of Thursday night's loss to the Los Angeles Rams.

"He said he didn't want to play today," Shanahan told reporters.

"He said he didn't want to play today."

— 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan on LB De'Vondre Campbell when asked to replace Dre Greenlaw pic.twitter.com/QRcmG6nZW9

— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) December 13, 2024

Shanahan was non-committal when asked if the team would release Campbell.

"I don't know. We'll figure out something," Shanahan said, per NFL Network's Clayton Holloway.

The 49ers lost 12-6 to the Rams and could be officially eliminated from playoff contention with a Seattle Seahawks win this weekend.

The TNF broadcast showed Campbell walking off the field and into the tunnel in the fourth quarter.

His exit led to criticism from teammates including tight end George Kittle, who called it a "selfish decision."

Niners cornerback Charvarius Ward said after the loss that Campbell's actions "definitely hurt the team."

"He's probably gonna get cut," Ward said, per The Athletic's Matt Barrows.

Here is the whole Mooney Ward exchange on De'Vondre Campbell refusing to go into the game tonight.

Mooney was brutally honest about a guy who appeared to quit on his team. #49ers | #FTTB pic.twitter.com/CT6zNcC4t1

— Matt Lively (@mattblively) December 13, 2024

Campbell appeared in each of the 49ers' first 13 games of the season. He had started 10 straight games heading into Thursday, although his usage steadily decreased over the last three weeks.

The 49ers announced ahead of Week 15 that Dre Greenlaw would be returning from an Achilles injury, putting Campbell on the bench for the first time since Week 3.

Greenlaw played each 49ers defensive snap during the first half against the Rams, but began to miss snaps in the third quarter. Campbell was then apparently called to step in for him, at which point Shanahan indicated he refused.

Campbell is playing on the one-year, $1.2 million contract he signed with the 49ers ahead of the 2024 season. The 49ers would be left with $4.56 million in dead money if he was cut, according to Over the Cap.

The San Francisco 49ers fell to the Los Angeles Rams in a sloppy NFC West matchup on Thursday, losing by the final score of 12-6.

Rainy conditions slowed down both teams throughout the first half, and San Francisco's offense couldn't come alive once the third quarter started. Neither squad was able to score a touchdown by the end of the contest.

The 49ers had an opportunity for a potential game-winning Hail Mary, but Brock Purdy was sacked on the final play in regulation.

The @RamsNFL end it with a sack! pic.twitter.com/7GBU3uEt4a

— NFL (@NFL) December 13, 2024

Purdy finished 14-of-31 for just 142 yards and an interception. He was also sacked three times.

PICKED! Darious Williams gets the ball back for the @RamsNFL.#LARvsSF on Prime Video
Also streaming on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/aFav3TtBcs

— NFL (@NFL) December 13, 2024

Purdy is picked off... pic.twitter.com/nhrzp5EyNI

— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) December 13, 2024

Deebo Samuel's seven targets were the second-most among 49ers players, but he hauled in a mere three receptions for 16 yards and struggled with drops throughout the contest.

Head coach Kyle Shanahan's team averaged only 3.6 yards per play and converted three of 12 opportunities on third down.

Fans called out the sluggish offensive performance.

Kyle Shanahan and Brock Purdy forcing the ball to Deebo Samuel might cost the 49ers the game and thus, the season

— Chase Senior (@Chase_Senior) December 13, 2024

https://twitter.com/warriorsworld/status/1867415509878419942

49ers would be winning by 2 tds if the whole scheme wasnt revolved around deebo like its 2021

— Lobs (@Lobs_All_Day) December 13, 2024

Maybe Deebo should have instead talked to his hands about not getting the ball

— Jake Ciely (@allinkid) December 13, 2024

Purdy has to be one of the worst deep ball passers in the league. These are just awful prayers.

— Brian Nemhauser (@hawkblogger) December 13, 2024

First Brock Purdy underthrows a potential touchdown pass to Ricky Pearsall, then Purdy throws an interception in field goal range while trailing by 3.

Not great.

— Grant Cohn (@grantcohn) December 13, 2024

Just an awful decision to throw that ball by Purdy.

— Geoff Schwartz (@geoffschwartz) December 13, 2024

Purdy might’ve just hammered the last nail in the 49ers coffin. ⚰️

— Eric Crocker 🥷🏾 (@Crocky209) December 13, 2024

As we head into mid-December, Brock Purdy is playing like the worst NFC West quarterback.

Stafford, Kyler, and Geno are all playing better football than Brock Purdy.

And it's not even up for debate.

— Bonta Hill (@BontaHill) December 13, 2024

For the Rams, Matthew Stafford finished 16-of-27 for 160 yards. Puka Nacua was Stafford's top target, catching seven passes for 97 yards.

The Rams improved to 8-6 and have now won four of their past five games.

Meanwhile, the 49ers fell to 6-8 as their playoff hopes continue to slip away.

The Los Angeles Rams' 12-6 win over the San Francisco 49ers on Thursday night had major playoff implications for both teams.

The final score boosted the Rams' playoff hopes while all but crushing the Niners'.

BIG TIME BY D-WILL!

📺: @NFLonPrime | #RamsHouse pic.twitter.com/xlSpe1Rbov

— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) December 13, 2024

Despite their 1-4 start to the campaign, the Rams' playoff odds climbed to 49 percent following Thursday night's win, according to NFL Next Gen Stats.

The 49ers could meanwhile officially be eliminated from playoff contention this weekend.

The postseason implications of Thursday night's result go further than the NFC West. The Green Bay Packers no longer have a chance of clinching a playoff berth this weekend.

Here's a look at the NFL standings and current playoff scenarios heading into the rest of Week 15.

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AFC Standings

1. Kansas City Chiefs: 12-1

2. Buffalo Bills: 10-3

3. Pittsburgh Steelers: 10-3

4. Houston Texans: 8-5

5. Baltimore Ravens: 8-5

6. Los Angeles Chargers: 8-5

7. Denver Broncos: 8-5

—————PLAYOFF LINE—————

8. Indianapolis Colts: 6-7

9. Miami Dolphins: 6-7

10. Cincinnati Bengals: 5-8

11. Cleveland Browns: 3-10

12. Jacksonville Jaguars: 3-10

13. New York Jets: 3-10

14. Tennessee Titans: 3-10

15. New England Patriots: 3-10

16. Las Vegas Raiders: 2-11

The Chiefs and Bills have clinched a playoff spot. The Browns, Jaguars, Jets, Titans, Patriots and Raiders have been eliminated from playoff contention.

---

NFC Standings

1. Detroit Lions: 12-1

2. Philadelphia Eagles: 11-2

3. Seattle Seahawks: 8-5

4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 7-6

5. Minnesota Vikings: 11-2

6. Green Bay Packers: 9-4

7. Washington Commanders: 8-5

—————PLAYOFF LINE—————

8. Los Angeles Rams: 8-6

9. Atlanta Falcons: 6-7

10. Arizona Cardinals: 6-7

11. San Francisco 49ers: 6-8

12. New Orleans Saints: 5-8

13. Dallas Cowboys: 5-8

14. Chicago Bears: 4-9

15. Carolina Panthers: 3-10

16. New York Giants: 2-11

The Lions and Eagles have clinched a playoff spot. The Giants have been eliminated from playoff contention.

---

The Packers will now need to wait until at least Week 16 to clinch a playoff spot. The only shot Green Bay had at securing a postseason berth this weekend hinged on the Rams and 49ers tying on Thursday night.

The 49ers are meanwhile in danger of being officially eliminated from playoff contention if the Seattle Seahawks defeat the Packers on Sunday.

The Steelers, Texans, Vikings and Eagles still have paths open to securing their spots in the postseason, as noted by NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.

The Steelers could clinch a playoff spot with a victory on Sunday against the Eagles.

A loss would leave the Steelers much less certain of their hold on the AFC North. Pittsburgh's next two matchups take place in a five-day span against the Ravens and the Chiefs. Baltimore could gain some ground in the division standings with a win over the 2-11 Giants this weekend.

The Eagles meanwhile could lock in a postseason spot of their own with a win over the Steelers, but only if the Commanders also lose to the Saints on Sunday.

The Texans are in for a brutal stretch of the schedule as the team prepares for games against the Dolphins, Chiefs and Ravens in a span of 10 days starting on Sunday.

Houston could start out that run by securing a playoff spot with a win in Miami on Sunday, as long as the Colts lose to the Broncos the same day.

The Vikings could secure a playoff spot on Monday with a win over the Bears, although a Seahawks loss could also get Minnesota into the postseason.

On the other side of the playoff picture, the Panthers, Cowboys, Bears and Bengals are at risk of official elimination from playoff contention this weekend, per NFL Playoff Scenarios.

A Bengals loss to the Tennessee Titans will knock Cincinnati officially out of the running if the defeat coincides with a Broncos win or tie.

The Panthers could defeat the Cowboys but be eliminated regardless by a Buccaneers or Falcons win. The Cowboys meanwhile need the victory, alongside a Commanders loss or tie, to retain any hope of sneaking into the playoffs.

The Commanders have the ability to officially eliminate multiple teams from contention with a win over the Saints on Sunday. The Bears also need a Washington loss, alongside a win over the Vikings on Monday, in order to remain in the picture.

The San Francisco 49ers running back spot has been a position of focus for fantasy football players throughout the season, and Thursday will be no different for those who previously picked up Isaac Guerendo off waivers.

ESPN's Adam Schefter reported Guerendo is expected to play against the Los Angeles Rams even though he is listed as questionable with a sprained foot. The running back said he "feels good."

That is notable development for fantasy football players given the overall turnover at the position this season.

Christian McCaffrey was largely seen as the consensus No. 1 overall pick going into fantasy drafts this season, but injuries have limited him to just four games. He is now on injured reserve alongside Jordan Mason, who was a capable fill-in option earlier in the season.

Mason ran for 100 or more yards in three of San Francisco's first four games of the 2024 campaign and was an early fantasy difference-maker. However, he is also sidelined, which opened the door for Guerendo.

And Guerendo took full advantage of the situation Sunday when he ran for 78 yards and two touchdowns to go with two catches for 50 yards in a win over the Chicago Bears. It was a performance that underscored the idea any 49ers running back who is given a significant opportunity in Kyle Shanahan's system will be a fantasy weapon.

Yet Guerendo's status going into Thursday's game made Patrick Taylor Jr. a popular waiver-wire and fill-in starting option for fantasy players looking for a late-season boost.

Taylor also had a touchdown run against the Bears, and a breakout showing against the Rams would just be the latest example of a San Francisco running back capitalizing on an opportunity this season.

But it seems like Guerendo will play, which makes starting either running back a risky proposition for fantasy players. It may create a situation where they split carries and become too touchdown-dependent to make either of them worth starting in the fantasy playoffs.

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy is firmly in Deebo Samuel's corner even after the wide receiver took to social media to say he needs the ball more.

"Deebo and I talk all the time and he's like one of my best friends on this team," Purdy told reporters Tuesday. "I absolutely love Deebo and what he's done for me and helping me out. We talk all the time and yeah, I think he's right. He's doing great right now with what we ask of him in the offense. And he's not struggling or anything. It's just like I said before about guys like Ricky or last year with Aiyuk for a little bit.

"There's just moments I guess throughout seasons where guys just don't get the ball, just depending on the scheme or what the defensive scheme is and them taking guys away. So I want to get Deebo the ball every play if I could. I want to have him break all the records as best as possible. I want Deebo to do Deebo things and we all do in this building. So it's just how the games have gone. But I love my guy and I'm going to do everything I can to get him the ball."

Samuel had two catches for 22 yards in Sunday's win over the Chicago Bears.

On Monday, he said "Not struggling at all just not getting the ball!!!" in a since-deleted social-media post.

He also explained he wasn't calling out any of his teammates:

Just cause I voice my opinions don’t mean I’m hating on any of my teammates!! Be Fr

— Deebo (@19problemz) December 9, 2024

"You read what you read," Samuel added on Tuesday while speaking with reporters. "[I'm] a little frustrated for sure."

Samuel has struggled to make an impact of late with four consecutive games of 22 or fewer receiving yards. Yet, as Purdy explained, some of that has to do with the defense he is facing with far more focus on him with Christian McCaffrey and Brandon Aiyuk sidelined with injuries.

The receiver can at least take solace knowing his quarterback still wants to get him the ball, which is notable ahead of a critical NFC West game against the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday.

San Francisco is still two games behind the Washington Commanders for the final NFC wild-card spot and is also trailing the 7-6 Rams by a game. It likely needs to figure out a way to win Thursday's contest if it is going to challenge for a postseason spot.

Perhaps that will mean getting the ball to Samuel even more.

It seems like San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel would like to get the ball more heading into the stretch run of the 2024 season.

While the 49ers defeated the Chicago Bears 38-13 in Sunday's NFC matchup, they have still lost three of their last four and are on the outside of the current playoff picture. Samuel took to social media Monday and pushed back at the notion he is struggling with the team, suggesting instead he just needs more opportunities:

https://twitter.com/19problemz/status/1866253630250360897

Just cause I voice my opinions mean I’m hating on any of my teammates!! Be Fr

— Deebo (@19problemz) December 9, 2024

The South Carolina product finished Sunday's game with two catches for 22 yards and five carries for 13 yards. It was the most carries he has seen since a Week 1 win over the New York Jets, although injuries to running backs Christian McCaffrey and Jordan Mason left the team shorthanded at the position against the Bears.

Still, he didn't make the most of those five runs with 2.6 yards per carry, which was more notable since he wasn't much of a factor in the passing game for the fourth straight outing.

Here is a look at Samuel's last four games as a pass-catcher:

• Nov. 17 vs. Seahawks: 4 catches, 7 targets, 22 yards
• Nov. 24 at Packers: 1 catch, 4 targets, 21 yards
• Dec. 1 at Bills: 4 catches, 5 targets, 20 yards
• Dec. 8 vs. Bears: 2 catches, 3 targets, 22 yards 

A Nov. 10 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers was the last time Samuel looked like his normal self as a receiver with five catches for 62 yards. And he has just one touchdown catch in the entire season.

Opposing defenses are surely making it a point to focus additional attention on Samuel with McCaffrey and Brandon Aiyuk sidelined with injuries.

That has made life more difficult for the veteran, who is used to impacting games in a variety of ways with his speed and physicality. The 2021 Pro Bowler has three seasons with more than 800 receiving yards, including that 2021 campaign when he posted 1,405.

However, he will need to quickly turn things around to reach that mark this year with 553 receiving yards and four games remaining.

Perhaps getting more chances will help him do just that, as he has seen more than seven targets just once all season. That came in Week 2 against the Minnesota Vikings when he posted a season-high 110 receiving yards on 10 targets.

Don't be surprised if Samuel sees plenty of chances in Thursday's NFC West showdown against the Los Angeles Rams after publicly calling for the ball.

San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan reaffirmed his commitment to the organization after a 38-13 win over the Chicago Bears on Sunday.

"I don't want to be any place in the world more than here," Shanahan said, per ESPN's Adam Schefter.

Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk previously said that the head coach and San Francisco would benefit from a "fresh start" following a potential trade to another team during a Tuesday appearance on The Rich Eisen Show (7:59 mark).

49ers general manager John Lynch vehemently disagreed with the notion, explaining that he finds it "comical" on KNBR's Marcus & Murphy show.

Lynch on rumors about Kyle Shanahan's job:

"I've found the whole discussion on Kyle rather comical. We've won four of the last five division championships and been in two Super Bowls. The standard here is to win (Super Bowls) and we've fallen short I understand that. But we… pic.twitter.com/8thJjq0kKm

— KNBR (@KNBR) December 6, 2024

After reaching double-digit win totals in four of the past five years and making two Super Bowl appearances, San Francisco currently sits at 6-7 during its 2024 campaign.

While the 49ers have had four one-score losses this season, injuries have heavily impacted their relatively poor record.

Christian McCaffrey, the reigning Offensive Player of the Year, didn't make his season debut until Week 10 due to calf and Achilles issues. He appeared in four games before he was placed on injured reserve due to a PCL injury that could cause him to miss the rest of the year.

McCaffrey is far from the only key player on the 49ers to deal with health issues this season. George Kittle, Brandon Aiyuk, Nick Bosa, Charvarius Ward and Javon Hargrave have missed multiple games in 2024.

Shanahan has shown that his offense can stay potent, which was evident during Sunday's 25-point win over the Bears. San Francisco racked up 452 total yards, while Brock Purdy threw for 325 yards and two touchdowns.

JJ out here going CRAZY!

📺 #CHIvsSF on FOX
NFL+ // https://t.co/KTh0i4oaLh pic.twitter.com/YZtfj6BsPw

— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) December 8, 2024

The 49ers currently sit at No. 11 in the NFC playoff picture, although they're just two wins behind the Washington Commanders for the final wild card spot.

Even if San Francisco can't complete a run to the postseason, Shanahan doesn't seem to be interested in a change of scenery anytime soon.