On Saturday, the 49ers placed the quarterback on injured reserve – effectively ending his season.
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The team has promoted QB Dylan Thompson from the practice spot to take Kaepernick’s place on the active roster.
Kaepernick practiced for the team all week, and had been listed as probable for the 49ers upcoming contest against the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday. So maybe Kaepernick was not only saving his body, but his career as well.
Asked if Kaepernick has expressed any bitterness toward the organization, Baalke said: “Not that I know of”. The 49ers medical staff was made aware of the injury after the game, but no MRI was ordered until Kaepernick returned from last weekend’s bye with his shoulder throbbing, sources said. He didn’t show up on the injury report for a shoulder issue until Friday.
On Fox NFL Sunday, Jay Glazer added to Rapoport’s report, saying Kaepernick’s fate in San Francisco largely depends on whether Jim Tomsula remains as the 49ers’ head coach.
Kaepernick has a “significant” tear of his left shoulder’s labrum, which is the fibrous tissue rim surrounding the upper-arm socket to stabilize the joint, as defined by the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons. Given this was only Gabbert’s second start, I see it as the team wanting to push the Gabbert option publicly a bit more.
Kaepernick was 29th in passer rating (78.5) when he went to the bench. He was sacked 28 times in eight games, which put him on pace to eclipse last year’s total of 52, the most ever in a season by a 49ers quarterback.
On Friday, Kaepernick told The Bee the injury occurred against the Packers in Week 4.
Romo completed 36 of 45 passes for 356 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions in a season-opening victory over the Giants and threw for 195 yards against the Eagles before the injury.
“No one contacted us relative to trading Colin”, he said.
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The team will save a total of .765 million in cap space in 2016, making the move all the more likely. It was easy to trade Alex Smith, the loser in Kaepernick’s remarkable ascent to the starting job in 2012, when he was healthy and playing well. “Which, obviously, if he has surgery, he’s not going to be able to play”.
