Christian Ponder, the 12th overall pick in that draft, signed with the team Tuesday, joining Blaine Gabbert (10th) and Colin Kaepernick (36th) in the QB corps.
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In Sunday’s preseason opener against the San Francisco 49ers, Miller didn’t take long to show off what he can do.
Although there are five quarterbacks on the team’s roster, Ponder may already find himself in the second-string role behind quarterback Blaine Gabbert. This is Chip Kelly’s style and one that can work with the right kind of personnel. He was cut by the Raiders on September 5 after participating in their offseason program and training camp. He resurfaced with the Denver Broncos in late November, was inactive for two games and was released December 8.
Ponder (28) has started 36 games in the National Football League, but only one since 2013.
Over his career, Ponder has thrown for 6,658 yards with 38 touchdowns and 36 interceptions for a mediocre quarterback rating of 75.9. Four wins or so and another top-ten draft pick as the franchise shuffles one year forward, without a shot at doing anything this year.
The 49ers are in desperate need of QB help.
Beyond that, you have to wonder if the 49ers are thinking about putting Kaepernick on ice for the entire season, the way Washington sidelined Robert Griffin III last season once he lost the starting job to Kirk Cousins.
Coach Ben McAdoo also said Sunday that wide receiver Victor Cruz is still being bothered by a groin problem and is day to day.
The 49ers weren’t in full pads and worked out less than 90 minutes before flying out to Denver.
Kaepernick continued to participate in a limited capacity.
“I think playing the quarterback position is based off decision-making”, Gabbert explained, noting that pulling the ball down and running is a part of the process.
The 49ers had a nice drive going in the first quarter, having gotten a 22-yard run from Carlos Hyde and an 11-yard completion from Gabbert to tight end Vance McDonald.
New voice – Kate Scott, a morning anchor on KNBR, handled the radio play-by-play for Sunday’s game against the Texans.
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Kaepernick and Kelly cited the heavy workload (which covers between 86 to 102 throws per practice) as a reason for missing the game. “He hasn’t been a fumbler”. Back to Prescott – the knocks on him coming out of Mississippi State were the offense that he ran (Tim Tebow-ish spread) and accuracy issues (which he actually seemed to clear up his senior year, but whatever). “And we’ve been emphasizing it big time”.
