Advertisement

San Francisco 49ers QB Colin Kaepernick to start vs New York Jets, despite last horror show

By The Sports Xchange
San Francisco 49ers QB Colin Kaepernick warms up to play the Los Angeles Rams at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California on September 12. 2016. Photo by Terry Schmitt/UPI
1 of 3 | San Francisco 49ers QB Colin Kaepernick warms up to play the Los Angeles Rams at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California on September 12. 2016. Photo by Terry Schmitt/UPI | License Photo

SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- The San Francisco 49ers might have been gone for 10 days, but they sure looked the same when they reported to work at their training facility this week.

Yes, Colin Kaepernick is still their quarterback.

Advertisement

Even before coach Chip Kelly returned to the San Francisco Bay Area from Maine, where he was attending his father's funeral, the 49ers announced Tuesday that despite one of the worst performances by a quarterback in franchise history, Kaepernick will retain the starting position for Sunday's home game against the New York Jets.

"Kap is going to be the starter and we'll go from there," 49ers offensive coordinator Curtis Modkins announced Tuesday. "We just decided during the game (in Chicago) to try to see if Blaine (Gabbert) could give us a spark. Kap is back being the starter. It's nothing other than that."

Kaepernick completed only one pass in Sunday's 26-6 loss, but that wasn't entire his fault.

First off, the game plan featured a heavy dose of running in the snow, a strategy that helped produce a 6-0 lead shortly before halftime.

Advertisement

Kaepernick, who was sacked five times, attempted only five passes in his three quarters of duty. Actually, he threw a sixth -- a 15-yard completion to running back Shaun Draughn into the Chicago red zone -- that was negated by a penalty.

Some have suggested that Kaepernick, who played college football at a cold-weather school (Nevada), might have considered wearing a glove under the miserable conditions in Chicago. He wasn't into making excuses Wednesday.

"That hadn't crossed my mind," he said of wearing a glove to potentially improve his handle on the ball. "I hadn't had issues in the past. So I hadn't thought about that."

It rained during Wednesday's workout, and the forecast is for possible showers during the weekend in the San Francisco area. Again, Kaepernick said he had bigger things to worry about.

"We have to perform better regardless of conditions or anything like that," he said. "We have to do a better job."

Kaepernick admitted he flew home from Chicago not knowing what his status would be for the New York visit.

"After the game ... I don't know if anybody really knew," he said. "So, for me, I wanted to make sure regardless, I'm coming in and preparing to make sure I'm ready to go."

Advertisement

Kelly said the call to stay with the status quo was a group decision, made over the phone Monday while he was still away from the team.

"I had an opportunity to watch film and I brought tape with me," he explained. "So I could watch tape, and then I had a chance to talk to Curtis Modkins ... and then (quarterbacks coach) Ryan Day ... and we kind of went through what our thought process was.

"We believe Kap gives us the best chance to win this week. So we're excited."

Latest Headlines