After the Seahawks finished up a 37-18 win over the 49ers that didn’t feel nearly as close as that final score, 49ers coach Chip Kelly said that he never considered replacing quarterback Blaine Gabbert with Colin Kaepernick.
Kelly said he thought Gabbert “played OK” while going 14-of-25 for 119 yards and an interception while the 49ers fell behind 37-3 before Carlos Hyde ran for two scores in garbage time. Kelly may not be thinking about making a move, but Seahawks defensive end Michael Bennett said after the game that he thinks the coach should be heading in the other direction.
“There is no challenge [facing Gabbert]. He threw for 100 yards,” Bennett said, via Curtis Crabtree of PFT and 950 KJR. “The challenge is him reading the defenses and staying in the pocket. What’s the point in running when you have to throw the ball? I think Kaepernick gives the team a better chance of winning, but that’s just my opinion.”
When Kelly said he was sticking with Gabbert after Week Two, he said Kaepernick wasn’t up to his playing weight after an offseason spent recovering from multiple surgeries. Kaepernick said on Sunday that he feels ready to play, but it doesn’t sound like the 49ers are ready to move in his direction.