In a move that surprises absolutely no one, San Francisco 49ers head coach Chip Kelly has named Colin Kaepernick the team’s starting quarterback.
Kaepernick’s first start will come this upcoming Sunday against the Bills in Buffalo.
Chip Kelly: "@Kaepernick7 will start this week." #SFvsBUF pic.twitter.com/rFipkerwK3
— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) October 11, 2016
At 1-4 on the season and with pretty much nothing to lose, San Francisco was long expected to start Kaepernick over an ineffective Blaine Gabbert this upcoming week. That’s now been confirmed by the team.
It comes on the heels of the two sides agreeing to a contract restructure, which enables San Francisco to play Kaepernick without concern over his 2017 salary becoming fully guaranteed if he’s injured (more on that here).
When Colin Kaepernick's contract voids next March, he goes from counting $19,365,753 on SF's 2017 salary cap to $4,931,507 in dead money.
— Joel Corry (@corryjoel) October 11, 2016
Most of the talk in recent months has surrounded the Kaepernick-led national anthem protests that have taken the NFL by storm. But the fact that he’s once again starting for the team is a testament to just how well the two sides have worked together.
Kaepernick requested a trade following a disastrous 2016 season. He was then seen as a long shot to make the roster during the summer.
In the midst of a four-game losing streak, San Francisco turns to Kaepernick to save the season. In turn, Kaepernick turns to the 49ers to save a career that’s been pointing downhill for the past two seasons.
Whether this works is anyone’s guess. But it’s a changed that needed to be made. .