Kaepernick Will Start Over Gabbert in 49ers' Game at Bills

SANTA CLARA -- Colin Kaepernick has regained his role as the 49ers’ starting quarterback.

Coach Chip Kelly announced on Tuesday that Kaepernick will replace Blaine Gabbert when the 49ers return to action Sunday against the Buffalo Bills in Orchard Park, New York.

Gabbert started the first five games of the season for the 49ers (1-4). The 49ers rank 31st in the NFL in passing yards, averaging 170.0 yards per game. Only the Bills (169.4) are worse.

Gabbert won the starting job in training camp. But he failed to solidify his spot on the depth chart. The 49ers are currently mired in a four-game losing streak.

Only Arizona backup quarterback Drew Stanton has a lower yards-per-attempt average than Gabbert’s 5.9-yard average among the 44 quarterbacks who have completed passes this season. Gabbert’s 69.6 passer rating ranks next-to-last in the NFL ahead of only Ryan Fitzpatrick of the New York Jets.

Kaepernick took over as the 49ers’ starting quarterback in 2012 when Alex Smith originally left the lineup due to a concussion. Kaepernick started 47 consecutive regular season games before getting benched at the midway point of last season.

The 49ers are 27-20 in regular-season games in which Kaepernick has started. The team is also 4-2 in the playoffs with him at quarterback, including a Super Bowl run at the conclusion of the 2012 season.

Gabbert has not experienced much success in his six NFL seasons. His teams have compiled a record of 9-31 with him as the starter. In 13 starts with the 49ers over the past two seasons, the club is 4-9.

Coach Chip Kelly said this week that the offense, as a whole, is struggling. He declined to place the blame on Gabbert.

“We just have to work on being more consistent,” Kelly said on KNBR. “I think that’s overall. That’s not just the quarterback position, that’s every single person. You have to look at it, as a whole. If it was just one person, it would be an easy deal. But it’s not just one person. Are the receivers running the right routes? Is the offensive line in the right protection? Are we hitting the hole the right way?

“There are so many different factors that go into being successful on the offensive side of the ball that people can look at one position and say, ‘Let’s blame that person.’ But that’s not what we do, and I don’t think any coach does that. I think you look at the totality of what you’re trying to do on the offensive side of the ball. All 11 guys contribute to your success. Or all 11 guys contribute to your lack of success.”
 

Copyright CSNBY - CSN BAY
Contact Us