Colin Kaepernick better get used to sitting down because his coach just gave him word that he is benched!
According To ABC7:
Colin Kaepernick survived San Francisco’s roster cuts on Saturday when the 49ers determined that his ability as a quarterback more than offset any potential distraction over his refusal to stand during the national anthem.
The 49ers announced that Kaepernick, Blaine Gabbert and Christian Ponder will be the team’s three quarterbacks to start their first season with Chip Kelly as coach. Kelly had telegraphed that move earlier in the week when he called Kaepernick one of his team’s two best quarterbacks.
Kaepernick’s status on the team was briefly in question after his anthem protest over racial oppression and police brutality in the United States became public last weekend.
Blaine Gabbert will start vs. the Rams on Monday night.
Chip Kelly: Blaine Gabbert will start vs the Rams on @ESPNMondayNight.
— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) September 3, 2016
In other moves, the Niners acquired receiver Rod Streater and an undisclosed draft pick from Kansas City for an undisclosed draft pick and traded safety L.J. McCray to Seattle for an undisclosed draft pick. Both deals are pending physicals.
The Niners also waived receiver DeAndre Smelter with an injury, placed linebacker Aaron Lynch on the suspended list for four games for violating league rules on substance abuse and released 20 players.
But the biggest focus was at quarterback, where San Francisco released Jeff Driskel but kept Kaepernick, who is expected to be one of the backups to Gabbert to start the season.
Kaepernick refused to stand for the national anthem on Aug. 26 against Green Bay and was outspoken in his reasoning, saying he would continue standing up for people who were oppressed until he saw significant change.
Kaepernick once again protested the anthem on Thursday night in San Diego, but kneeled alongside teammate Eric Reid, instead of sitting, in a move meant to show more respect to veterans.
Kaepernick’s performance had plummeted in recent years after he led San Francisco to the Super Bowl following the 2012 season and the NFC title game the following year.He eventually lost his starting job to Gabbert midway through last season and had done little to show he should win it back this year. He was slowed in the offseason after undergoing operations on his non-throwing shoulder, right thumb and left knee and did not get any practice time.