Colin Kaepernick’s impressive performance against the Chicago Bears on Monday night appears to have earned him another opportunity in the starting role for the San Francisco 49ers.
According to Jim Trotter of SI.com, Harbaugh is making the switch to Kaepernick over incumbent starter Alex Smith.
Trotter said that Harbaugh has informed Smith that Kaepernick will get the start against the New Orleans Saints this Sunday, and that the decision was not because of Smith’s health.
Harbaugh had two strong options to choose from but decided to go with the younger Kaepernick. In his first NFL start Monday night, Kaepernick went 16 of 23 for 243 yards and two touchdowns against one of the better defenses in the league. On the other hand, Smith had thrown just two incompletions in his last two games before suffering a concussion against the St. Louis Rams two weeks ago.
Harbaugh said he would go with the hot hand at quarterback. Apparently for the time being, that’s Kaepernick.
UPDATE 11:42 p.m. ET: Smith reportedly has told ESPN’s Trent Dilfer that Kaepernick will get the first-team reps in practice, and that Smith could still start Sunday’s game. Smith and Dilfer spent two years together as teammates in San Francisco.
UPDATE 12:27 a.m. ET: Trotter responded to the ESPN report late Wednesday night saying he’s standing by his report and included a quote from what he was told Harbaugh said to Smith. “I’m going with Kaepernick. Alex, I’m sorry.”