NFL Rumors: 49ers Making Colin Kaepernick Starting QB, Blaine Gabbert as His Backup?

By Carlo Monzon
Colin Kaepernick
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) on the sidelines in the third quarter. The Panthers defeated the 49ers 46-27 at Bank of America Stadium.  Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

As the San Francisco 49ers head into Week 3 against the Seattle Seahawks, the question remains regarding who will be the team's next starting quarterback. Based on Blaine Gabbert's previous performance, the team might consider putting Colin Kaepernick at the No. 1 spot.

When the 2016 NFL season began, the 49ers appointed Gabbert as their main passer. Although he did fairly well in their season-opener against the Los Angeles Rams, Gabbert began to show signs of weakness after the team suffered its first loss of the season against the Carolina Panthers.

In that game, which San Francisco lost 27-46, Gabbert struggled with his accuracy, giving the Panthers a clear path to victory. 49ers coach Chip Kelly even admitted that the quarterback's performance during that game was "up and down."

As the team prepares to face off against the Seahawks in Week 3, fans are starting to question what the San Francisco franchise aims to do with its current quarterback issue. Based on Gabbert's previous performance, putting Kaepernick on the line could seem like a good option for the team.

However, Kelly is keen on maintaining Gabbert as the team's starting quarterback. In a recent interview, he noted that even though Kaepernick is showing improvements during practice sessions, his physical condition is still a bit worrisome.

"It's coming back up and I think he's doing a good job in the weight room," Kelly said about Kaepernick. "But it's not something that's going to happen overnight. You just don't go from where he was to... I think his ideal playing weight is about 225. He's not going to get to 225 in a week. If you are, it's not going to be a good 225."

"He didn't lift for I don't know how long it was since his operation," he added. "But I think people still forget, he had a thumb, a shoulder and a knee [surgeries]."

Based on Kelly's statements, it seems Kaepernick will not be playing as the team's starter anytime soon. But, if he can get his weight up and show tremendous progress in his physical condition, then there's a good chance that the 49ers will make a serious change in its QB lineup.

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