SANTA CLARA — On Monday, Chip Kelly said Colin Kaepernick isn’t physically ready to be the starting quarterback for the 49ers.
On Tuesday, Kaepernick distanced himself from Kelly’s comments.
“I’m always ready to play,” Kaepernick said. “I’m always ready to step on that field and put it on the line for my team.”
Kaepernick wasn’t vehemently disagreeing with Kelly’s stance, and acknowledged his strength is still growing. But it raises some questions whether the QB’s muscle mass is the real reason he’s still backing up Blaine Gabbert.
There’s two conclusions to make behind Kelly’s thinking:
A) Kaepernick has looked that bad in the extra practice reps he’s getting.
B) Kelly has given Gabbert a free pass the last two weeks because of the Seattle and Carolina defenses and wants to see what he can do against Dallas.
Kelly keeps reiterating Kaepernick is not at his playing weight of 225 pounds. The 28-year-old underwent surgery on his thumb, knee and shoulder in the offseason and lost a significant amount of weight. He also became a vegan.
If it’s as easy as stepping on the scale to prove to Kelly he’s ready, why doesn’t Kaepernick just shovel pasta and vegetables into his belly? Well, that’s actually what he’s been doing.
“Eat food, and a lot of it,’ Kaepernick said of his plan on gaining weight. “That’s something I’ve always had to do and be conscious of. I have a very lean body type. Putting weight on for me is a little more difficult than others.”
Honestly though, what’s truly the difference between 217 pounds and 225 pounds? That’s a strange discrepancy to make in the middle of the football season. Plus, the 49ers offensive line is first in the NFL in sacks allowed through three games. Obviously it’s football, but it’s not like Kelly would exactly be throwing him into the fire. Kaepernick said he’s been doing every drill at full-speed and he’s been a participant in the weight room.
There’s no denying Kelly and the training staff gave Kaepernick entirely too many training camp repetitions for his surgically repaired body to handle in training camp. Because of the $14.5 million they’ll be on the hook for if Kaepernick can’t pass a physical in April of 2017, the 49ers have a right to baby Kaepernick back onto the football field.
“To get the full Kap for what you need, the potential that he has, he needs to continue to just work on the physical aspect of things,” Kelly said on Monday.
You have to applaud Kelly for taking the ready-made excuse. Maybe it’s possible the coach feels like a quick hook on Gabbert will disrupt team morale. Maybe he really wants to see Gabbert against a mediocre Dallas defense.
But the educated guess for what’s going on: Kap is performing that poorly in practice. He did have a shaky training camp before missing two weeks with arm fatigue. It’s hard to imagine anyone missing more throws than Gabbert did these last two weeks, but Kaepernick isn’t exactly a star anymore.
Still, when Bradley Pinion is leading the NFL with 21 punts in three games, and Gabbert can’t throw the football past the first-down marker, the 49ers have to consider making the swap — no matter what Kaepernick’s weight says on the scale.
How different would the offense look under Kaepernick instead Gabbert?
“You know, that remains to be seen,” Kaepernick said. “There’s things we need to improve. We have to address, because the last two weeks weren’t good enough. That’s something we have to do as a team to make sure we go out and get wins.
“Obviously, I’m very confident in my talents and what I’m able to bring to the table… My strength is still growing and developing. But once again, I’m always going to be prepared, always ready to put it on the line for this team.”
Those of you who want to see a different quarterback under center for the 49ers better start rooting for Kaepernick to increase his diet.
