Chip Kelly is leaving the door open to start Colin Kaepernick
The San Francisco 49ers have gotten underwhelming quarterback play from Blaine Gabbert this season, and it’s led to a 1-4 record. He has the second-worst passer rating in the NFL, averages the fewest yards per attempt, and is second to last in yards per game.
The 49ers’ rough start has kicked a worthy debate into motion: Should they turn to Colin Kaepernick?
It’s an option the team hasn’t seriously considered this season … until now. On Monday, head coach Chip Kelly said the coaching staff is going to meet and weigh the possibilities they have "everywhere."
"We'll get together as a staff today and look at our game plan in terms of moving forward at what we're going to do everywhere,” Kelly said on KNBR-AM in San Francisco, via the Mercury News.
Kelly acknowledged that they’re going to look at all the different options they have.
“It’s fair to say we’re looking at every option we have to be a good football team,” Kelly said. “I don’t think it’s different from any other position. Obviously that position gets the most notoriety but we have to look at everything right now.”
One of the biggest factors of Kaepernick’s tenure in San Francisco remains his contract. His base salary is $11.9 million this season, and it jumps to $14.5 million if he’s on the roster next season.
Kelly is obviously well aware of that fact, but he assured everyone that Kaepernick’s contract has no bearing on whether or not he plays, telling the Mercury News "that conspiracy theory should be done."
The 49ers’ next game comes on Sunday against the Buffalo Bills. Another loss would significantly hurt their playoff chances as recovering from a 1-5 hole is highly unlikely. The time to turn to Kaepernick might be now, if not just to see what he can do, and what his future holds with the 49ers.
