San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick skipped out on passing for the second practice in a row, this time during the team's joint-practice with the Houston Texans. He was held out due to what head coach Chip Kelly described as "arm fatigue" and a sore throwing shoulder.
On Friday, Kaepernick only participated in three handoffs and one running play where he kept the ball. Following practice, he was asked about the shoulder and described it as "just tightness." He was also asked if he would play on Sunday. "I think so," he responded. Kaepernick compared the shoulder "injury" to when he was a pitcher in high school. "My arm always snapped back quick," he said. "I'm not worried about it."
"Kaepernick said he did a lot of throwing as training camp approached, but it was difficult to prepare his throwing arm for the strain of the team's high-tempo practices," reports Matt Maiocco of CSN Bay Area. "I threw quite a bit," Kaepernick said. "But you can't (replicate) that live action, though and intensity and quick twitch that you need when you're going against a defense."
Kaepernick stated that he definitely expects to start a game during preseason based on his conversations with Kelly. "From everything he's told me, we're both getting a fair shot," said Kaepernick.
Kaepernick is currently going through the process of getting his tinted visor, which has been prescribed, approved for games.
The 49ers and Texans will open up their exhibition seasons on Sunday at Levi's Stadium.