Colin Kaepernick dealing with ‘arm fatigue,’ might not play Sunday

The long-awaited return of Colin Kaepernick to the field for the San Francisco 49ers might have to wait another week.

Chip Kelly, speaking with media on Friday, revealed Kaepernick will be limited during the joint practice with the Houston Texans due to “arm fatigue,” per Matt Maiocco of CSN Bay Area.

Kelly then said Kaepernick will have to be evaluated for Sunday’s preseason game against the Texans after Friday’s practice.

That the quarterback is dealing with some fatigue isn’t surprising. He missed almost all of the team’s offseason workouts recovering from three offseason surgeries and lost a ton of muscle mass in the process (picture of a very skinny Kaepernick here).

That said, you have to believe he’s going to do everything in his power to play. After all, nothing less than the starting job is at stake, and he’s already behind the eight ball on this front.

If he’s cleared for action, Kaepernick will come off the bench after Gabbert starts this game.

Based on the chatter coming out of Santa Clara already, the starting job is Gabbert’s to lose. He’s been talked up by many this offseason as the overwhelming favorite to win the job — something that has only intensified of late.

Should Kaepernick end up sitting out Sunday’s game, he’ll have an even steeper hill to climb to overtake Gabbert for the starting job.

Blessed with physical abilities that would seem to fit well into Kelly’s up-tempo scheme, he has yet to do much to show he’s up for the challenge thus far in 2016.