Latest On Colin Kaepernick
The 49ers’ offer of a contract restructure to quarterback Colin Kaepernick is “awaiting his signature,” reports Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee (Twitter links). Kaepernick, like all other San Francisco players, has been out of town since the club’s Thursday night game, and won’t return until tomorrow. It’s unclear if Kaepernick is planning to sign off on the new deal at the time.
[RELATED: Poll — Which 49ers QB Should Start Week 6?]
The new deal should alleviate concerns regarding the quarterback’s injury guarantees. Meanwhile, it will also give Kaepernick an opportunity to void his deal after this season should he outperform his contract. The deal effectively does away with No. 7’s guarantees in 2017 and could cut off the final three years of the pact. It will also allow the 49ers to receive a compensatory pick if Kaepernick voids the contract and signs elsewhere during the offseason.
One new detail of the proposed restructuring is that the 49ers would guarantee Kaepernick’s remaining weekly gameday active bonuses, which would total $1.375MM, according to Jason Cole of Bleacher Report (Twitter link). The new contract could signal that San Francisco is willing to bench Blaine Gabbert and start Kaepernick in Week 6. Head coach Chip Kelly left that possibility open, but the club hasn’t made an official decision.
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49ers Sign CB JaCorey Shepherd
The 49ers announced that they have signed cornerback JaCorey Shepherd. Shepherd will take the place of cornerback Chris Davis, who was placed on injured reserve with a knee injury. 
The signing reunites Shepherd, a 2015 draft pick of the Eagles, with coach Chip Kelly. In college, Shepherd started out as a wide receiver but didn’t find his footing until he was turned into a defensive back as a sophomore. As a junior, Shepherd had 45 total tackles, including two tackles for a loss, and ten pass deflections, putting him on the map nationally. His stats dropped a bit as a senior, but he still showed enough to become a late draft pick.
Davis, a cornerback/kick returner, was forced out of Thursday night’s game against the Cardinals. He was initially listed as questionable for this Sunday against the Bills, but he is now likely done for the season.
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Maiocco: Trent Baalke On The Hot Seat
- Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com believes that 49ers GM Trent Baalke is on the hot seat, largely as a result of his repeated failure to address the team’s weaknesses at impact positions. The problem is that there is nothing Baalke can do to strengthen the team for the final 11 games, so if San Francisco does not improve on its own, Baalke’s tenure with the club could be over.
[SOURCE LINK]
49ers Mulling QB Change
- Ian Rapoport of NFL.com chimes in on the Colin Kaepernick situation, reporting that the 49ers are indeed mulling a move to pull starting quarterback Blaine Gabbert in favor of Kaepernick. Although head coach Chip Kelly has not yet had conversations with his full staff regarding his quarterback conundrum, he has had informal, exploratory discussions about making a move. There are, of course, several factors that could influence Kelly’s decision, including Kaepernick’s contract situation–a restructured deal would make San Francisco more willing to put No. 7 on the field–and his health. Although Kaepernick is not yet back to his normal playing weight, his arm at least is back to full strength, and he appears more at ease with his teammates then he has in years past. He does not consistently outperform Gabbert in practice, but at this point, a change probably makes sense and could happen soon.
49ers Restructure Colin Kaepernick’s Deal?
SATURDAY, 9:30am: Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports (via Twitter) has some details on Kaepernick’s new contract.
$2MM in future potential bonuses will now be guaranteed, which is a significant payday for the quarterback. Furthermore, the new contract now features several incentives that are connected to playing time.
FRIDAY, 5:50pm: This is “far from a done deal,” tweets Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com. Maiocco notes that it could still happen, however.
3:05pm: The 49ers and Colin Kaepernick have reached agreement on a restructuring of his contract, as Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reports (Twitter links).
The new deal should alleviate concerns regarding the quarterback’s injury guarantees. Meanwhile, it will also give Kaepernick an opportunity to void his deal after this season should he outperform his contract. The deal effectively does away with No. 7’s guarantees in 2017 and could cut off the final three years of the pact. It will also allow the 49ers to receive a compensatory pick if Kaepernick voids the contract and signs elsewhere during the offseason, per CBS Sports’ Jason La Canfora (Twitter link).
The reworked deal could signal that the team is benching Blaine Gabbert and installing Kaepernick as the new starter. However, there is no official word on that front.
Gabbert is coming off of a disappointing game against the Cardinals and coach Chip Kelly has left the door open to a quarterback change. Kaepernick, the one-time starter in SF, has been a lightning rod for controversy this year. Now, he has an opportunity to make headlines again for his play on the field and not his actions on the sideline.
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Poll: Which QB Should 49ers Start In Week 6?
In Blaine Gabbert, Colin Kaepernick and Christian Ponder, the 49ers have three quarterbacks who were high picks in the 2011 draft, yet the 1-4 club finds itself in an unenviable position under center. Gabbert and Ponder, both of whom were first-rounders, have never lived up to their respective draft choices. Conversely, Kaepernick has his share of accomplishments since the 49ers used a second-rounder on him, but the 28-year-old’s effectiveness has fallen off in recent seasons.
Just as he did in Jacksonville, where he spent the first three seasons of his career, Gabbert is failing in San Francisco. Gabbert won the starting job over the summer, but he’s now at risk of losing the role thanks to his substandard output thus far. After the 49ers’ 33-21 loss to the Cardinals on Thursday, when Gabbert completed 18-of-31 passes for 162 yards, a touchdown and an interception, head coach Chip Kelly left the door open for a change at quarterback.
The assumption is that Kaepernick will grab the reins if Kelly demotes Gabbert, but multiple 49ers offensive players have told Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com that they’d like Ponder to take over. The 12th selection in his draft class (two picks after Gabbert), Ponder garnered plenty of experience with the Vikings from 2011-14, though he didn’t exactly light it up. In 38 appearances (36 starts), Ponder completed a below-average 59.8 percent of passes, averaged an underwhelming 6.3 yards per attempt, and tossed 38 touchdowns against 36 picks in Minnesota. Those numbers are almost identical to the totals Gabbert has posted during his 42-appearance, 40-start career (56.3 completion percentage, 6.0 YPA, 38 TDs versus 37 INTs).
It’s clear that Kaepernick, who lost his job to Gabbert last year as he battled injuries and a decline in performance, has the best credentials of any 49ers quarterback. But his days as a quality option may have concluded with his season-ending interception in the 49ers’ 23-17 NFC title game loss to Seattle in January 2014. The once-electrifying dual threat has been mediocre to worse since, though it might be worthwhile for the Kelly to see if he can help the sixth-year man recapture the form he showed off in his first season and a half at the Niners’ helm. Of course, it’s questionable whether Kaepernick is physically ready to get back on the field after surgeries to his left knee, left shoulder and right thumb stopped him from experiencing a normal offseason.
The offensive-minded Kelly previously drew career-best performances from Nick Foles, Mark Sanchez and Sam Bradford in Philadelphia, but it doesn’t appear he’ll do the same with Gabbert in San Francisco. Kelly has two other (flawed) choices on hand, though, and with extra time to prepare for the 49ers’ Week 6 visit to Buffalo, a shakeup could happen.
Which QB Should SF Start In Week 6?
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Colin Kaepernick 49% (1,581)
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Christian Ponder 44% (1,412)
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Blaine Gabbert 8% (246)
Total votes: 3,239
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49ers’ Colin Kaepernick Could Start Week 6
Head coach Chip Kelly left the door open for backup quarterback Colin Kaepernick to grab the reins from Blaine Gabbert after the 49ers’ 33-21 loss to the Cardinals on Thursday. It now appears Kaepernick will start the 49ers’ Week 6 game in Buffalo, multiple sources have told Jason Cole of Bleacher Report (video link).
Gabbert beat out Kaepernick for the 49ers’ starting role over the summer, but the latter wasn’t in football shape after undergoing surgeries on his left knee, left shoulder and right thumb. It’s unknown how physically ready Kaepernick is now, but whether it’s him or fellow backup Christian Ponder – whom some 49ers players reportedly prefer – the free-falling club needs to make a change under center.
As has been the case for most of his six-year career, Gabbert has performed woefully this season. The 10th overall pick of the 2011 draft and former Jaguar has completed just 58 percent of his 150 passes this year with a 5.93 YPA, five touchdowns against six interceptions, and a 69.6 QB rating. Along the way, the 49ers have lost four in a row after winning their opener in resounding fashion, 28-0, over the Rams.
Of the 49ers’ three signal-callers, Kaepernick has easily enjoyed the most on-field success. Before last season, when his numbers dipped significantly in an injury-shortened year, the 2011 second-rounder from Nevada was a major dual threat who combined for 50 touchdowns and 21 interceptions as a passer from 2012-14 while rushing for over 1,500 yards. He also helped lead San Francisco to a Super Bowl berth during the 2012-13 campaign and a place in the NFC title game the next season.
More recently, Kaepernick’s activism has drawn far more attention than his resume as a player. The 28-year-old has become one of America’s most polarizing athletes in recent memory on account of his refusal to stand for the pregame national anthem. In doing so, Kaepernick is protesting racial injustice in America, and his choice has spurred other NFLers to make similar pregame statements.
Regardless of whether Kaepernick reclaims his old job against the Bills, he could go forward with a restructured contract. Kaepernick and the 49ers are working to amend the long-term deal they reached in 2014, meaning he would be able to void the pact after this season.
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49ers Players Want Ponder To Start?
After the 49ers lost to the Cardinals on Thursday night, coach Chip Kelly indicated that he is considering benching Blaine Gabbert in favor of Colin Kaepernick. Gabbert’s time as the Niners’ starter could be coming to a close, but it’s not a given that it will be Kaepernick taking over. Multiple anonymous offensive players tell Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com that they prefer Christian Ponder to both players. 
“Ponder is the best option for quarterback on the roster,” said one locker-room source.
After winning in their season opener against the Rams, the 49ers have dropped their last four games. In terms of passing yards gained, they are dead last in the NFL. Gabbert can’t be blamed for all of that given the offensive line’s woes, but it’s not a surprise to hear that he is under the gun given everything that has gone on in the last four contests.
Ponder joined the Niners late in the summer, giving San Francisco three notable QBs from the 2011 draft class. At the time, he says that he was considering retirement. Now, at least a handful of players in the locker room think he should be the No. 1 QB.
“That crossed my mind,” said Ponder in August when asked if he thought he might not get another chance to play football. “My plan was to stay ready for this season anyway and see what happens. If nothing happened all year, it would be time to hang it up. I was going to give myself this season and see what happens.”
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49ers Open To Starting Colin Kaepernick?
Could Colin Kaepernick once again serve as the 49ers’ starting quarterback? After Blaine Gabbert‘s poor showing against the Cardinals on Thursday night, it’s certainly possible. For the first time since the season started, coach Chip Kelly left the door open to a possible QB change, as Tim Kawakami of the Mercury News tweets. That change could take place before the Niners travel to Buffalo on Oct. 16. 
[RELATED: 49ers LB NaVorro Bowman Done For Season]
It’s only October, but the Niners’ season clearly isn’t moving in the right direction. At 1-4, the 49ers’ offense is averaging 290.3 yards per game, the second lowest in the NFL. In terms of passing, they’re dead last with 175.4 yards per contest. Something has to change, and that change just might happen under center.
Of course, the 49ers’ issues go far beyond the quarterback position. San Francisco’s offensive line gave up seven sacks to the Cardinals’ defense last night and Colin Kaepernick won’t be able to do much with that kind of protection, even if he recaptures his old form. The O-Line situation only got worse when Anthony Davis opted to retire (again) late last month.
It will be interesting to see how a potential quarterback change could impact the team’s plans going forward. Gabbert is scheduled to hit the open market after this season. Kaepernick’s contract could be terminated with little penalty, but the Niners could also retain him through 2020 if they wish.
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NaVorro Bowman On Injury
49ers linebacker NaVorro Bowman is done for the season with a torn Achilles, but the 28-year-old doesn’t expect the injury to have long-term effects. “It’s just a minor setback for a major comeback,” he said Thursday (via Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com). It’s the second catastrophic injury over the past three years for Bowman, who previously tore both his ACL and MCL in the 49ers’ NFC title game loss to Seattle in January 2014. Bowman returned last year to improbably earn first-team All-Pro honors for the fourth time on the strength of an NFL-best 154-tackle campaign.