By the time the 49ers open their offseason workout program Monday, quarterback Colin Kaepernick could be gone, traded to the Denver Broncos.
Or, not.
What seemed like an imminent trade this past weekend stalled, but probably just for a bit. At this point, it appears Kaepernick will be in a Denver uniform sooner rather than later.
Meanwhile, Monday is Day 1 of the first two weeks of the 49ers’ nine-week offseason program under new head coach Chip Kelly and his staff. The first two weeks are lmited to strength, conditioning and physical rehab work.
Other key dates in the offseason program, according to 49ers.com, are:
April 18 – The first day of the second phase of workouts, that consist of individual player instruction and offensive and defensive team drills without opposition or contact.
May 17 – The first day of three sessions of organized team activities (OTAs): May 17-19, May 24-26 and May 31-June 2. In these sessions, 7-on-7, 9-on-7 and 11-on-11 drills are permitted with no contact.
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April 26 – Voluntary minicamp through April 28.
June 7 – Mandatory minicamp through June 9. The post-draft gathering will include two-a-day practices and will be the most intense portion of the offseason program. The team will then take a break before getting together again for summer training camp.
As Paul Gutierrez of ESPN.com noted recently, the start of Monday’s offseason program gives Kelly his first real opportunity to begin working with players. But the key question that will hang over the team until it is resolved is Kaepernick’s status.
Wrote Gutierrez: “Kelly is seen as a quarterback whisperer of sorts, and if Kaepernick is indeed gone by the time training camp opens in July, any time he will have spent with Kaepernick in the offseason program will have turned out to be wasted time. Especially when it could have been used on (Blaine) Gabbert.”
Multiple reports, however, projected that Kaepernick will indeed report to 49ers workouts Monday. He certainly has incentive: a $400,000 workout bonus that could be his by showing up and taking part in team activities this week.
Meanwhile, the waiting game will continue.
