Kaepernick on being benched: “It’s not my place to really argue on the sideline”

Early in the fourth quarter of Sunday's embarrassing 26-6 loss to the Chicago Bears, San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick was benched in favor of Blaine Gabbert. Kaepernick had been just 1-of-5 for 4 yards passing in the game and also rushed six times for 20 yards. However, the offense could not get anything going in the cold snowstorm that struck Soldier Field.

Following the loss, the 49ers' 11th-straight of the season, Kaepernick spoke to the media about being benched. Quarterbacks coach Ryan Day was the man that gave the news to both Kaepernick and Gabbert. Kaepernick admitted that he did not put up much of a fight to return to the game, which at the point of being benched was already out of reach.

"It's not my place to really argue on the sideline," Kaepernick told reporters. "I want to make sure I do what I can to help this team win and that was the decision that was made so I'm going to support my teammates."

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Kaepernick was asked if he expects to start next Sunday when the 49ers host the New York Jets at Levi's Stadium. "That's not my decision," Kaepernick answered. "My feelings on it really don't matter at this point. I'm just going to do everything I can to make sure I'm prepared."

"Once again, it's not about my feelings," Kaepernick continued. "It's about being able to help this team win. "This coaching staff didn't feel like I was out there being able to help this team win so they made a change, whether I agree with that or not."

Very early this morning, Ian Rapoport of NFL Media reported that Kaepernick would indeed test free agency following this season and void the remainder of his contract. Of course, that topic came up in Kaepernick's postgame press conference and, as expected, he avoided the question. "Once again, as I've said all along, my focus is on the next game," Kaepernick said. "My focus has been on the Bears this past week."

Prior to the game in Chicago, Kaepernick had thrown for 1,110 yards with eight touchdowns and only two interceptions in his last four games.