Colin Kaepernick remains sidelined as he heals from three offseason surgeries, and he won’t be cleared for San Francisco 49ers minicamp this week, per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.
The #49ers have minicamp this week, but QB Colin Kaepernick won't be cleared to participate, per source. The hope is closer to training camp
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) June 6, 2016
Should Kaepernick be cleared for training camp, as Rapoport suggests he might, then he’ll have a chance to wrest the starting job away from Blaine Gabbert. Based on the fact that Gabbert has been taking all the first-team snaps since Chip Kelly’s arrival in San Francisco, though, we have to assume he’ll have a big edge as training camp kicks off.
However, the 49ers have repeatedly stated that Kaepernick will have a legitimate chance to compete for the starting job. Kelly recently said both Kap and Gabbert possess similar qualities, and he has been nothing but positive in his assessment of the injured quarterback.
To this point, Kaepernick has attended every practice and meeting this offseason with the 49ers. He’s done everything right since asking the 49ers for permission to seek a trade, even though the franchise was not able to find a landing spot for him. With this in mind, there is room for optimism as it concerns Kaepernick’s long-term relationship with the 49ers.