With Colin Kaepernick dealing with a “dead” right arm, that left Blaine Gabbert and rookie Jeff Driskel, a sixth-round pick from Louisiana Tech, as the only healthy quarterbacks on the roster.
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Gabbert evened the score just over four minutes later when he connected with McDonald on the lengthy catch-and-run play. He said Friday he thought he would play Sunday against the Texans but also that he wanted to get on top of the issue before it became worse.
Kaepernick’s status is now undetermined for Saturday’s game against the Denver Broncos. He hasn’t done much throwing since last season and the more time he doesn’t throw is less time for him to truly compete against Gabbert.
“He’ll get treatment tonight, and then we’ll take a look at him tomorrow and see how he’s feeling”, McAdoo said. Gabbert, who many believe has a chance to be the team’s Week 1 start, played well, tossing a 43-yard touchdown to Vance MacDonald in the first quarter.
It’s all blurry with Kaepernick and 49ers management (Kelly at this point is probably just a bemused bystander), and it has been like this for months.
Jones, who led Ohio State to the 2015 national championship, threw a 4-yard touchdown pass to Jarrett Boykin as time expired.
“The good thing is he did settle down”, Kelly said of Gabbert. “I’m just trying to get better every day”. “Guys did a good job coming down with it, getting open”.
The 49ers were in need of a quarterback after Thaddeus Lewis was lost for the season Sunday with an ACL tear.
Meanwhile, Kaepernick remained on the sidelines to nurse his sore shoulder.
“I don’t look at it as a leg up (for Gabbert)”, Kelly said, per Tim Kawakami of the San Jose Mercury News. “I went out there today and it felt great, so it was necessary”.
“They’re going to be judged on who moves our offensive football team the best, who protects the football the best, gives us an opportunity to win games”.
49ers: First-round DL DeForest Buckner was pushed around a bit in the running game and finished with one solo tackle and two assists.
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Neither general manager Trent Baalke nor coach Chip Kelly was available for comment on the Ponder signing. He threw two touchdown passes and ran for a touchdown in a 24-13, Week 3 victory against the eventual NFC champions.
