Will 49ers Dump Kaepernick?
- Will Colin Kaepernick play for the 49ers this year? His status in SF is in flux following news of his “dead arm,” Mike Florio of PFT opines. On the surface, talk of this mystery problem hurts Kaep’s value. On the other hand, Florio wonders if word of this issue is actually better for his trade value than a declaration that he has lost the starting job to Blaine Gabbert based on talent. Earlier this summer, the Niners backed out of a potential trade with the Broncos because they were unwilling to pick up a sizable portion of Kaepernick’s salary. At this point, Florio believes that the Niners would be willing to entertain such a deal. Alternatively, the 49ers can do what the Browns did with RGIII – keep Kaepernick on the bench for all of the 2016 season to avoid the risk of having to pay out his injury guarantee of $14.5MM for 2017.
- Will Colin Kaepernick play for the 49ers this year? His status in SF is in flux following news of his “dead arm,” Mike Florio of PFT opines. On the surface, talk of this mystery problem hurts Kaep’s value. On the other hand, Florio wonders if word of this issue is actually better for his trade value than a declaration that he has lost the starting job to Blaine Gabbert based on talent. Earlier this summer, the Niners backed out of a potential trade with the Broncos because they were unwilling to pick up a sizable portion of Kaepernick’s salary. At this point, Florio believes that the Niners would be willing to entertain such a deal. Alternatively, the 49ers can do what the Browns did with RGIII – keep Kaepernick on the bench for all of the 2016 season to avoid the risk of having to pay out his injury guarantee of $14.5MM for 2017.
- 49ers GM Trent Baalke isn’t a big fan of the term “rebuild,” but that’s clearly where the team is right now, Charles Robinson of Yahoo Sports writes. SF is taking the long approach, and that means building through the draft. “That’s historically what wins,” Baalke said. “It’s tough to buy championships in any sport [but] it’s damn near impossible in the National Football League. … We absolutely have a young core group of guys that are going to move into their second contracts here. And I think people will see that this year as it unfolds. The Aaron Lynchs. The Jimmie Wards. The Carlos Hydes. They’re good football players and they’re only going to get better.”
Colin Kaerpernick Dealing With “Dead Arm”
49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick was held out of Sunday’s preseason game against the Texans as he deals with a “dead arm,” reports Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (Twitter link). San Francisco hopes that Kaepernick will be healthy enough to participate in Saturday’s contest against the Broncos, as Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com writes.
[RELATED: 49ers sign NaVorro Bowman to extension]
“Colin isn’t 100 percent and it wouldn’t have been fair to put him in and judge him in a competition,” head coach Chip Kelly said Sunday night. “…It’s nothing that’s a long-term thing. It’s just a day-to-day thing. He said he feels better as we go, but we’re not going to push him so we can have a proper evaluation.”
Kaepernick, of course, is locked in a battle with Blaine Gabbert for the 49ers’ starting quarterback job, though how open the competition is remains a question. In fact, Adam Caplan of ESPN.com tweeted last night that Gabbert has been the “landslide favorite” for weeks. However, Gabbert wasn’t overly effective in limited action against Houston, as he completed only four of 10 passes while throwing one touchdown.
If Kaepernick’s injury does turn into a long-term issue, San Francisco could be forced to add another quarterback to its roster. Backup signal-caller Thad Lewis tore his ACL in last night’s contest and is out for the season, meaning the Niners have only two healthy quarterbacks available: Gabbert, and sixth-round rookie Jeff Driskel.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
49ers QB Thad Lewis Out For Season
49ers quarterback Thaddeus Lewis suffered a torn ACL and is out for the season, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). 
[RELATED: Colin Kaepernick Unlikely To Start]
Lewis was forced to exit from the Niners’ preseason opener on Sunday night with a leg injury, but the severity of the issue was not immediately apparent. Before his night ended prematurely, Lewis completed 12-of-21 passes for 97 yards against the Texans.
In March, Lewis inked a one-year, $760K minimum salary benefit deal with SF. Although the deal included $25K in playing-time incentives and a $428K split salary, it doesn’t appear that the pact called for much in the way of guarantees.
Lewis, 28, was on the Eagles’ roster when Chip Kelly was their head coach last season and the two reunited in San Francisco this spring. Lewis has appeared in seven NFL games, though none since 2014, making six starts with five touchdowns against four interceptions.
With Lewis out of the equation, the Niners are left with Blaine Gabbert, Colin Kaepernick, and Jeff Driskel at quarterback.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Colin Kaepernick Unlikely To Start For 49ers
- Colin Kaepernick is vying for the 49ers’ starting job, but shoulder tightness is currently preventing the sixth-year man from competing with Blaine Gabbert, as Cam Inman of the Bay Area News Group writes. It’s important to note that Kaepernick’s right shoulder – not the left shoulder that required November surgery – is the one bothering him. The 28-year-old is “not too concerned about” the issue, he said Friday, and classified it as “just tightness.” Nevertheless, Kaepernick’s inability to garner first-team reps isn’t helping his cause in a battle that Gabbert looks primed to win, according to Inman.
Anthony Davis Content In SF?
- 49ers offensive lineman Anthony Davis still isn’t practicing with the starting unit, but he’s not complaining, despite his predilection for blasting the team in the past. “I’ve never played third team. It’s an experience,” Davis said (via Cam Inman of the Mercury News). “I don’t mind it. Coach (Tom) Higgins used to say at Piscataway (New Jersey) High School: ‘The cream always rises to the top.’ That’s how it always works out.” Speaking of New Jersey, some within the Giants have reportedly pushed for the team to deal for Davis, though we haven’t heard much on that front in the last week.
Reactions To NaVorro Bowman Extension
NaVorro Bowman is staying in San Francisco for the foreseeable future. The talented linebacker signed an extension earlier this week that will last through the 2022 season. The four-year extension is worth a reported $44MM (with $20MM guaranteed).
Bowman still had three years left on his contract, but the 28-year-old told Cam Inman of The Mercury News that he was intent on inking a long-term extension as soon as possible. Furthermore, the linebacker understood his standing in the organization, and he didn’t want his contract to trump that of former 49ers greats (including Patrick Willis).
“Out of respect for Pat, I took a little less and understood this was his team at the time,” Bowman said. “I’ve accomplished a lot since that time and made huge accolades.
- The Bowman extension sent the right message to the linebacker’s teammates, writes Cam Inman. The players have learned that hard work can translate into a lucrative extension, and general manager Trent Baalke has already said that he plans on using the team’s remaining cap space to ink additional players to new contracts. Quarterback Blaine Gabbert, defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey, wide receiver Quinton Patton and linebacker Michael Wilhoite are among the 49ers who are in the final year of their contracts, Inman notes
- “I’ve had several guys walk up to me and say this is motivation for them,” Bowman told Inman. “It’s win-win situations for all us, to show guys it’s possible, but you have to put your work in and do your job.”
- “It just shows they truly believe in the guys they drafted to get the job done,” said defensive tackle Quinton Dial, who also received an extension. “It’s something we take a lot of pride in.”
- “I want to thank Jed, the York family and Trent for giving me the opportunity to continue my career where my heart is,” Bowman said after inking the extension (via CSNBayArea.com). “I appreciate the hard work that Drew and Paraag put in to getting this deal done. My teammates and coaches have meant so much to me throughout my career and I thank them for helping me become the player I am today. The support I’ve received from my family and friends throughout my life, especially through the adversity of the past few years, has meant so much to me. I can’t wait for the season to start and play in front of the best fans in the NFL.”
- Jason Fitzgerald of OverTheCap.com was surprised at the timing of the Bowman extension, although he notes that it isn’t the first time the team has extended a player with multiple years left on a contract. Furthermore, Fitzgerald believes the organization was simply taking advantage of their abundance of cap room.
49ers WR Eric Rogers Done For Season
CFL import Eric Rogers has suffered an ACL tear and will not be able to play this season, coach Chip Kelly told reporters (Twitter link via Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle). Rogers signed with San Francisco in January and was given the most lucrative deal for a CFL player since the Dolphins signed Cameron Wake back in 2009. 
Rogers, 25, visited 16 NFL teams over the winter and had 13 contract offers to sort through. Ultimately, Rogers chose to sign with the Niners because of Kelly. When Rogers visited the Eagles in December, Kelly took time out of his busy schedule to attend the workout in person. Weeks later, Kelly was hired by SF, and the wide receiver knew that was where he wanted to be.
“When he got hired by the Niners, he called me two or three hours after it got announced that they were going to hire him,” Rogers said. “He basically told me, ‘I guess I had to come to Cali to sign you since you’re a Cali boy.’ So he still had that kind of recruitment in him like he was at Oregon. He was like, ‘You’re the first player I called and I want you to be the first player I sign at my new job.’”
Rogers, who played his college ball at Cal Lutheran, signed with the Cowboys as an undrafted free agent in 2013, but didn’t earn a regular season roster spot. After joining the Portland Thunder of the Arena Football League, Rogers headed to the CFL in 2014 and had his breakout season with Calgary in 2015. In 17 games for the Stampeders last season, Rogers racked up 87 receptions for 1,448 yards and 10 touchdowns.
The Colts, Chargers, Giants, Titans, Patriots, Jets, Ravens, Steelers, Texans, Eagles, Vikings, Bears, Browns, and Redskins were among the teams to give Rogers a look during his NFL tour.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
49ers Make Two Roster Moves
49ers Sign NaVorro Bowman To Extension
The 49ers and NaVorro Bowman have reached agreement on a contract extension, the team announced on Thursday night. The new pact will keep him in place through the 2022 season. The new four-year extension is worth $44MM with $20MM guaranteed, a source tells Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). 
“Over the last six years, NaVorro has become a cornerstone of our organization and securing his future in the Bay Area was a priority for us,” said general manager Trent Baalke. “The perseverance he displayed while overcoming adversity and returning to his All-Pro form provides a great example of what can be accomplished through hard work and self-belief. This contract extension reaffirms our core philosophy of rewarding our own players and we are thrilled to know NaVorro will play his entire career with the 49ers.”
The news comes as a surprise since the Niners had three years until Bowman could reach the open market again. We should know more about the impetus for this move come Friday, but for now it appears that the 49ers simply wanted to do right by one of their star players. When putting the two deals together, Bowman now has himself a seven-year, ~$67.55MM pact.
That yearly average of $9.65MM puts him ahead of Lawrence Timmons, making him the league’s third-highest paid inside linebacker in terms of AAV behind Luke Kuechly and Bobby Wagner. In terms of overall value, Bowman has the highest-paying contract of any inside linebacker as his $67.55MM deal bests Kuechly’s $61.8MM pact with the Panthers which takes him through the 2021 season.
In the playoffs following the 2013 season, Bowman suffered a serious knee injury which kept him out of action for the entire 2014 campaign. The linebacker came back in a big way in 2015, however, leading the NFL with 154 total tackles plus 2.5 sacks and two passes defensed. Bowman’s remarkable comeback earned him First-Team All-Pro honors and a Pro Bowl nod.
Since entering the league in 2010 as a third-round pick, Bowman has earned First-Team All-Pro selections and three trips to the Pro Bowl. In total, the SF standout has 733 tackles, 11.5 sacks, three interceptions, six forced fumbles, five fumble recoveries, and 25 passes defensed to his credit.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Giants Could Push To Acquire Anthony Davis
The Giants still need help along their offensive line, and some within the organization are pushing to acquire recently-reinstated 49ers tackle Anthony Davis, according to Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Davis, of course, is back with San Francisco after taking the 2015 season off, and while the 49ers are reportedly cognizant that Davis could retire again, the “sense” is the club wants to keep the former first-round pick on its roster rather than trade him. New York, though, would be a logical destination for Davis is the Niners change their tune, as Big Blue is current counting on journeyman Marshall Newhouse to man the right side.