De’Vondre Campbell, a linebacker with the Packers, expresses his annoyance on social media: “I’m no longer playing with injuries.”

Over the past week, supporters of the Green Bay Packers have been loud about their dissatisfaction with the team’s defense, taking particular aim at coordinator Joe Barry, on social media.

Now, a team leader for the Packers has also turned to social media to voice his apparent discontent, which is likely to raise some questions about his intentions.

Packers linebacker De’Vondre Campbell tweeted on Tuesday morning, saying, “Not going out my way anymore and I’m not playing through injuries anymore because when (expletive) goes wrong they always use it against you.” “I’m treating everyone fairly and returning their energy to them in kind. You owe it to yourself to take care of your mental health and well-being.”

The last two games have seen the Packers defense, under coordinator Joe Barry, come under fire after two losses that almost eliminated them from postseason contention.

In Week 14, the team allowed third-string New York Giants quarterback Tommy DeVito to amass a career-high 71 rushing yards in a 24-22 loss because they were unable to bring him down. Then, on Sunday, in a 34-20 victory, Baker Mayfield and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers shredded the Packers’ defense. At Lambeau Field, Mayfield made history as the first opposing quarterback to ever achieve a perfect passing rating. He gained 381 yards and four touchdowns on roughly 80% of his passes.

LaFleur says he’s still searching for ways to improve communication with Barry and that he is dedicated to him as coordinator.

injury to De’Vondre Campbell in 2023
Campbell tweeted about getting hurt. Has he sustained any injuries this season?

Despite having played in the last three games and not being included on the team’s injury report coming into Sunday’s match, Campbell has missed four of the team’s fourteen games due to various injuries. His most recent injury was a neck strain, and it kept him out of the Packers’ Thanksgiving Day game against the Detroit Lions.

In the Packers’ Sunday defeat to the Bucs, he racked up five tackles despite the defense’s constant pressure from Mayfield, who repeatedly made it seem simple with a number of spectacular plays.

In the team’s 24-10 loss to the Minnesota Vikings on October 29, 2023, Campbell had his finest game of the year with 14 tackles, including 10 solo and 1.5 for a loss.

It was his first game back following three games (Oct. 9 vs. Las Vegas Raiders, Oct. 22 vs. Denver Broncos, and Sept. 29 vs. Lions) that he missed due to an ankle injury.

In addition to 4.5 tackles for a loss this season, Campbell has 67 tackles (42 solo and 25 assisted). He is headed for the fewest tackles he has had since his first campaign.

Since being selected in the fourth round out of Minnesota, 31-year-old Campbell has played in eight seasons in the NFL and is among the top 10 in tackles. After playing with the Atlanta Falcons for his first four seasons, he spent one year with the Arizona Cardinals. Prior to the 2021 season, Campbell signed a free agent contract with the Packers, where he excelled right away.

His career-high 146 tackles in 2021 ranked him fourth in the NFL. Because of his performance, he was named an All-Pro for the first time in his career and signed a new $50 million contract that would last five years.

Nevertheless, due to injuries that have prevented him from playing in games for the first time since his rookie season, his numbers have declined over the last two years. Playing in 13 of the team’s 17 games in the previous campaign, he finished third in terms of total tackles (96, 56 solo).

De’Vondre Campbell represents the Packers as the Walter Payton NFL Man of Year.
Campbell’s work off the field is well-known. He is the group’s nominee for the 2023 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year.

The honor honors a player’s superiority both on and off the field. In 2019, Campbell established the De’Vondre Campbell Family Youth Foundation with the goal of empowering families and young people who are at-risk.