Given the way the San Francisco 49ers are playing, a lot of fans are starting to question when the team will make a significant change on its quarterback lineup. But, based on the recent update on backup QB Colin Kaepernick's condition, it seems the team might consider releasing him for good.
During Week 3 of the 2016 NFL season, the 49ers suffered their second consecutive loss against the Seattle Seahawks while under the leadership of starting quarterback Blaine Gabbert. Following last Sunday's game, head coach Chip Kelly still remained optimistic about Gabbert, saying that he thought the athlete still played fairly well despite the loss.
For fans through, the second loss is already a clear indication that Kelly should do something about the team's quarterback. However, for now, it seems the 49ers have no other choice but to stick with Gabbert since Kaepernick is still nowhere near playing condition.
"I don't think he's ready to go full time," Kelly said about Kaepernick. "He's continuing to work on it. I think he's over there right now. And, Kap will be the first to tell you, if you guys have been around here before, I think his playing weight has been around 225 and he's not at that right now."
Kelly's statement can be a bit frustrating especially for 49ers fans. With the way Gabbert is playing, it seems Kaepernick is the team's only hope of regaining its winning record again. However, since he is still not yet in top condition, all he can do now is wait on the bench.
He'll only get his chance to play if Gabbert gets hurt. But, once this happens, it is not yet clear if Kaepernick will be up to the task of being the new starting quarterback.
Because of this, the team should probably explore their other options regarding their quarterbacks. Specifically, the 49ers should start considering bringing in someone new either through a trade or through free agency.
Given Kaepernick's current condition, they could either waive him to create enough salary space for a new player or exchange him for a more capable quarterback. Either way, the 49ers will get the chance to get a more effective quarterback who could replace Gabbert on the starting line or serve as a reliable backup.
