San Francisco 49ers Colin Kaepernick and Blaine Gabbert jog on to the field for practice before the game against the New York Giants on November 16, 2014. UPI /John Angelillo |
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The San Francisco 49ers are making a change at quarterback, with Colin Kaepernick getting benched and Blaine Gabbert scheduled to start Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons, multiple media outlets reported Monday.
Coach Jim Tomsula did not announce the quarterback switch in his Monday press conference but hinted that some changes might be made. When asked whether Kaepernick would remain the starter, he said, "We're evaluating everything right now. We're in the middle of it right now, and I don't have any comments on any position on our field right now. We're evaluating everyone."
A source later confirmed to CSNBayArea.com that Kaepernick was told he would be the backup quarterback Sunday and that Gabbert would start.
Kaepernick led the 49ers to the Super Bowl following the 2012 season after taking over from Alex Smith midway through the year.
The 49ers slipped to 12-4 in his first full season as the 49ers' starting quarterback in 2013, and they were 8-8 last season, Jim Harbaugh's final season as head coach.
Kaepernick's passer rating went down each season, from 98.3 in 2012 to 91.6 in 2013 to 86.4 last season to 78.8 in eight games this season.
Kaepernick has completed 59.3 percent of his passes with six touchdown passes and five interceptions this year. The 49ers are 2-6, and they managed just nine points and no touchdowns in their past two games combined. Kaepernick averaged just 4.0 yards per passing attempt Sunday in a 27-6 loss to the St. Louis Rams.
Gabbert is in his second season with San Francisco. He attempted just seven passes, completing three, in 2014.
He started three games for Jacksonville in 2013, and the Jaguars lost all three. Gabbert was 1-9 as the Jaguars' starter in 2012 and 4-10 in 2011. He has never had a passer rating better than 77.4, which he achieved in 2012.
