For comparison, below are the passing statistics for each quarterback through five starts.
| Comp | Att | Pct | Yds | TD | Int | Rate | |
| Colin Kaepernick | 86 | 162 | 53.1 | 1,144 | 7 | 2 | 85.0 |
| Blaine Gabbert | 87 | 150 | 58.0 | 890 | 5 | 6 | 69.6 |
Below are the rushing statistics for each quarterback this season.
| Att | Yds | Avg | TD | |
| Colin Kaepernick | 36 | 260 | 7.2 | 1 |
| Blaine Gabbert | 39 | 172 | 4.4 | 2 |
Below are the grades for each quarterback this season from advanced statistics site Pro Football Focus.
| Grade | Pass | Run | Snaps | QB Rank | |
| Colin Kaepernick | 43.0 | 37.3 | 87.0 | 319 | 31 |
| Blaine Gabbert | 39.1 | 37.3 | 76.9 | 329 | 35 |
Pro Football Focus' ranking is out of 35 total graded quarterbacks, so the two sit at or near the bottom of the list. Please note that these are Pro Football Focus' initial Monday grades and those grades often fluctuate slightly going into Tuesday.
Nearly every week, 49ers head coach Chip Kelly is asked if Kaepernick will remain his starting quarterback for the next game. "Yeah, unless, we're always evaluating every week, but I don't think Colin played poor today," Kelly said following the loss to the Patriots on Sunday.
Kaepernick finished the game against the Patriots 16 of 30 passing for 206 yards, two touchdowns, and a passer rating of 97.4. He was 2 of 8 for 50 yards and had a 53.1 passer rating on attempts of 20 or more yards, per Pro Football Focus. Kaepernick was just 4 of 14 for 52 yards and a 42.6 passer rating when throwing to wide receivers on Sunday.
The 49ers are 1-9 this season and riding a franchise tying nine-game losing streak. The last time the 49ers lost nine straight was in 1978 and Kelly has become the first single coach to do it. In 1978, the nine straight losses were between two coaches. The team has never lost 10 straight in its history.
Neither quarterback may be back in 2017. Gabbert will be an unrestricted free agent in March at the start of the new league year. Kaepernick can void the remainder of his contract and elect to become an unrestricted free agent as well. In fact, there is no quarterback on the roster that is guaranteed to be with the 49ers beyond this season. Both Christian Ponder and Thad Lewis signed one-year deals this past offseason and are also scheduled to become unrestricted free agents.
The 2017 NFL Draft is just five months away.
More San Francisco 49ers News
-
49ers Brandon Aiyuk trade: Why moving him now makes sense—and why it doesn't
The 49ers' return window for Brandon Aiyuk closes April 1, offering the Niners one final opportunity to trade him and move on from a contract decision they reportedly never wanted to make. No, it's not April Fools, but it sure feels a lot like Groundhog Day. Just months after... -
Talanoa Hufanga shares a heartfelt farewell to 49ers and fans
All-Pro safety Talanoa Hufanga took to Instagram on Saturday to say goodbye to the San Francisco 49ers and their fans. The standout defender signed with the Denver Broncos in free agency after spending his first four NFL seasons with the 49ers. "Change is always exciting, but... -
Mock draft: 49ers selection benefits both 'present and future'
The San Francisco 49ers have a prime opportunity to bolster their offensive line while planning for the future in the 2025 NFL Draft. Many analysts predict the team will use its first-round pick on an offensive tackle—someone who can provide an immediate boost while... -
Jed York: Brock Purdy is a top-10 QB, and 49ers deal 'shouldn't be that hard'
San Francisco 49ers owner Jed York is steering clear of the contract negotiations between the team and quarterback Brock Purdy. The goal is to secure a long-term extension that would make Purdy one of the NFL's highest-paid players. The challenge lies in determining fair...