Brian Baldinger of NFL Network believes that San Francisco 49ers QB Colin Kaepernick can be successful in Chip Kelly's offense. However, he also believes that the quarterback competition in Santa Clara will eventually come down to who is more accurate. So who does Baldy believe will win the starting quarterback job for the 49ers?
"One thing about Blaine Gabbert – he runs a 4.6 40," said Baldinger on Tuesday. "He's sneaky fast. Maybe not what Kaepernick has been and what he's shown he's going to do, but I still think this is Colin Kaepernick's job to lose. So, if he gets healthy and takes to Chip's coaching and really buys into this offense, I think he can be successful and I think Kaepernick will win the job. He's shown his toughness of what he is physically. I don't know that Blaine Gabbert has been able to show toughness."
Baldinger stated that Kelly has had success with multiple quarterbacks in Philadelphia. He calls Kelly an "excellent" play caller. "It's not a complicated offense. Ultimately, his offense wants to make the quarterback to make the defense defend all 11 – where you're going to have to defend him as a runner and Kaepernick has shown that he can do that. If he takes to coaching with Chip, I think he can be successful," said Baldinger.
You can watch the entire segment below on NFL.com.
Inside the 49ers QB competition
Thursday will be the final day of organized team activities for the 49ers. The team will next reconvene for a mandatory minicamp from June 7 through 9. While Kaepernick has been with his teammates for the entire offseason program, he has not yet been medically cleared to practice on the field and has been limited to throwing with trainers on the side and going through the motions on the field.
Kaepernick tore a ligament in his throwing hand's thumb during an October 22 loss to the Seattle Seahawks. During his next game, a November 1 matchup against the St. Louis Rams, Kaepernick said that he suffered a bone bruise and cracked cartilage. That game would be his last of the season before being benched in favor of Gabbert and eventually placed on injured reserve.
Kaepernick is expected to be cleared to practice with the 49ers soon, but an exact timetable is anyone's guess.
