Buffalo Bills running back Ty Johnson runs upfield against 49ers linebacker De’Vondre Campbell during Sunday night’s 35-10 loss in Orchard Park, N.Y.
Bryan M. Bennett/Getty Images
De’Vondre Campbell has had his dreadlocks pulled multiple times in his nine-year career, but he never thought an opponent did so intentionally until Sunday night.
The San Francisco 49ers linebacker was still steaming Wednesday after he had his hair yanked by Bills receiver Mack Hollins in a 35-10 loss in Buffalo. Hollins grabbed the back of Campbell’s hair to prevent him from tackling Josh Allen on the quarterback’s 8-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter.
“It’s happened before, but not intentionally like that,” Campbell said to the Chronicle. “He did that s— on purpose. He can’t tell me he didn’t. It’s all good, though. We’re going to cross paths one day in the real world.”
Campbell looked in Hollins’ direction and raised his right arm in protest, but he didn’t pursue him as the wideout ran over to celebrate the score with Allen because he didn’t want to risk being ejected.
“We only had like three linebackers and I couldn’t do that,” Campbell said. “Just so he knows, if I ever see him, it’s on. He’s got to see me.”
In 2003, the NFL implemented what became known as the “Ricky Rule” after Dolphins running back Ricky Williams was twice tackled by his dreadlocks. The league ruled that any hair that falls outside the helmet is part of the uniform and therefore is legal to grab in a tackle attempt. However, the rule doesn’t apply to offensive players when it comes to restraining long-haired defensive players who don’t have the ball.
“One day,” Campbell said, “we’re going to cross paths.”
McCaffrey’s status: Head coach Kyle Shanahan said that running back Christian McCaffrey might be able to return from a posterior cruciate ligament injury in his right knee if the 49ers are still playing around mid-January.
“Yeah, I believe so,” Shanahan said.
On Monday, Shanahan said McCaffery had a six-week injury and said he looked forward to McCaffrey coming back “stronger than ever” in 2025. The 49ers (5-7) would have to make the playoffs and perhaps win a wild-card game for McCaffrey to be able to play in the divisional round on Jan. 18 or 19.
However, McCaffrey had a lengthy post on Instagram on Wednesday that suggested he doesn’t expect to play again this season.
“This wasn’t my year,” McCaffrey wrote, “and sometimes when it rains, it pours.”
