San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick stretches as players prepare to take part in drills against the Denver Broncos during the teams’ joint NFL football training camp session Thursday in Englewood, Colo.
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That’s not to say Gabbert has done anything to distinguish himself, not in his career as a whole, his work last season for the 49ers, or in the first preseason game. They still have to figure out who their starting quarterback will be and have to figure out who will take up the leadership role on the offensive side of the football that Peyton Manning filled last season.
To this point, the quarterback competition that has carried the conversation for this preseason has mostly fizzled. He said the sore shoulder shouldn’t prevent him from practicing Tuesday or playing Saturday.
In the meantime, 2015 seventh-round pick Trevor Siemian looks to have a real chance to beat out Sanchez to win the starting job after an impressive camp thus far.
They may have to, as the other options aren’t much more appealing. He has not thrown in a formal practice since August 10, nor did he play in last Sunday’s exhibition opener. That’s left Gabbert taking nearly all of the reps with the starters, something he did back in the spring when Kaepernick was still recovering from shoulder, thumb and knee surgeries. Several encouraging plays – and 400 yards from Chip Kelly’s offense – ensued in their eventual 31-24 victory. “It’s fun again for him”. If I sent one out there and one throws it four times and the other throws it 15.
“It’s hard playing like crap on two plays and ruining an opportunity”, Sanchez said.
Kelly said the plan outlined by the team’s medical staff in consultation with Kaepernick called for the quarterback to ramp up his practice participation next week with the notion of getting playing time in the team’s third exhibition at home against Green Bay on August 26. Whether he can do that remains to be seen but he looks like he’s at least moving closer to having the chance.
All of that being said, which five players should fans keep an eye on in particular in tomorrow’s game?
“I’m going to play the guy that I think is best for our team”, Kubiak said when asked about Lynch’s performance.
“I think he s really been an invaluable tool for us just because of the experience he has. I think he’s progressing, and we have a logical plan in place”. “I just watch their decision-making process and those types of things”. Actually, he should have thrown the ball away instead of into an obvious interception.
But the 49ers’ sluggish start didn’t ruin their night. Then he fumbled under pressure, and after getting a reprieve when backup linebacker Zaire Anderson forced a fumble, lost another fumble on the subsequent series. The Broncos also have talented running backs C.J. Anderson and rookie Devontae Booker. But we don’t want to throw him back out there and have a setback right now. The 6-yard loss was the first of three tackles for Ramsey against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
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“We got a lot of great work in, a lot of long practices, a lot of good work for our offense against a great defense”, Gabbert said. And Trent is not going to play guard. They’ve all done good stuff. And now we’re in a worse situation.
