Kelly not ready to commit to Kaepernick as 49ers starter, even as Gabbert stumbles again
Despite Blaine Gabbert’s continued struggles, San Francisco 49ers coach Chip Kelly was not ready to say on Monday if he is ready to switch starters, and put Colin Kaepernick in charge of the offense.
“We’ll get together as a staff today and look at our game plan in terms of moving forward and what we’re going to do with everyone,” Kelly said on KNBR radio. “I think as I said the day after the game at our press conference, we’ve got to evaluate everything. Part of it is looking at what type of game plan we’re putting together for the Bills and meet with our training staff, find out who’s available, and go from there.”
The 49ers fell to 1-4 on Thursday night after a 33-21 loss to their NFC West rivals, the Arizona Cardinals. Gabbert had a poor outing, going 18-of-31 for 162 yards, one passing touchdown, one rushing touchdown, and two interceptions.
Arizona turned the two turnovers into 10 points.
Gabbert has five touchdowns and six interceptions on the season, and while he’s completing fewer than 60 percent of his passes, even worse his yards per pass attempt is just 5.93, which is last in the league among quarterbacks who have started at least two games this season.
Pressed on whether Kaepernick, who started eight games for San Francisco last year, is being considered for the job as starting quarterback, Kelly responded, “It’s fair to say we’re looking at every option. We’re looking at every option we have to be a good football team. I don’t think it’s different than any other position on our team. Obviously, that position gets the most notoriety, but we have to look at everything right now.”
There was a report on Friday that the 49ers and Kaepernick were close to an agreement on restructuring the player’s contract, but again, Kelly wouldn’t comment, noting that isn’t part of his job.
“[Kaepernick] played in our first game. So, I’ve never been told not to play him, or he shouldn’t play. If I was told not to play, then why’d he play in the first game against the Rams? If I was concerned about his contract or him getting hurt? I’ve never been told by anyone in this building who to play at what position,” Kelly said.
San Francisco will face the Buffalo Bills on the road Sunday.
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