San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick is not throwing during the team's joint-practice in Denver with the Broncos, per multiple sources. He will only be participating in handoffs during practice. The quarterback has been dealing with soreness in his shoulder for the past week. The discomfort has been enough to keep the quarterback from taking part in team drills since last week and also sidelined Kaepernick during the team's exhibition opener against the Houston Texans on Sunday.
The #49ers other three quarterbacks are tossing the ball around in warm-ups. Colin Kaepernick is not.
— Matt Maiocco (@MaioccoCSN) August 17, 2016
WIth the team in Denver is newly signed Christian Ponder. Blaine Gabbert and Jeff Driskel are also participating in today's practice. The last time Kaepernick fully participated in team drills was last Wednesday during the 49ers' open practice at Kezar Stadium.
Colin Kaepernick isn't throwing during warm-ups. He last threw a week ago at Kezar Stadium. #49ers pic.twitter.com/LpIwa0hDCg
— Eric Branch (@Eric_Branch) August 17, 2016
There has been much speculation regarding the severity of Kaepernick's injury. 49ers head coach Chip Kelly has said the injury was day-to-day and hoped that Kaepernick would return to practice this week as the team prepares for their second preseason game – a Saturday matchup against the Broncos. "It's nothing that's a long-term thing," assured Kelly. "It's just a day-to-day thing. He says he feels better as we go, but we're not going to push him so that we can make a proper evaluation of him."
Adam Schefter of ESPN went as far as saying that the quarterback suffered from "dead arm," a sensory reduction or loss in the arm as the result of a shoulder dislocation or subluxation. Matt Maiocco of CSN Bay Area was very skeptical of the ESPN report and questioned its validity since there has been nothing to indicate an injury that severe had a chance to occur.
Gabbert started the game against the Texans on Sunday. His performance was described as "up and down" by both himself and his head coach. Gabbert would finish the game 5 of 11 for 66 yards passing and a touchdown. He would also have 18 yards rushing on three carries. During that game, the 49ers lost backup quarterback Thad Lewis for the season due to a torn ACL. That prompted the signing of Ponder on Tuesday.
#49ers QB Colin Kaepernick took three snaps in 11-on-11 run drill. He executed three handoffs on zone-read plays.
— Matt Maiocco (@MaioccoCSN) August 17, 2016
Last week, Kelly was asked if he believes that each quarterback would get equal reps with the first-team throughout preseason. "Yes, no question," he answered. "That's the only way to evaluate them." Earlier this month, Kelly said that preseason would be huge for evaluating both Gabbert and Kaepernick. "To make a fair evaluation, they have to both get reps with the ones," he said.
Kaepernick started the 2015 season as the 49ers' starting quarterback. He tore a ligament in his throwing hand's thumb during an October 22 loss to the Seattle Seahawks. During his next game, a November 1 matchup against the then-St. Louis Rams, Kaepernick said that he suffered a bone bruise and cracked cartilage. That game would be his last of the season before being benched in favor of Gabbert and eventually being placed on injured reserve.
Gabbert, who was signed by the 49ers prior to the 2014 season, went on to win three of his eight starts as the team finished with a 5-11 record. While Kaepernick recovered from offseason surgeries, Gabbert received the majority of the reps at quarterback during the 49ers' offseason program.
UPDATE: Kaepernick ws seen doing some throwing on the side field in Denver while teammates worked on special teams drills. The throwing was not actually part of practice though.
Colin Kaepernick is being held out of throwing drills at practice but is doing some throwing (about 10 yds) on side field during ST work.
— Matt Maiocco (@MaioccoCSN) August 17, 2016
