San Francisco 49ers: 5 Players to Watch For in Training Camp

Colin Kaepernick

Quarterback Colin Kaepernick should be fully recovered from his offseason knee, thumb and shoulder surgeries and should be ready to participate and compete for the starting QB job with Blaine Gabbert.

Kaepernick’s primary goal should be to show head coach Chip Kelly he has learnt the offensive game plan and schemes and he can show the ability to run it. This will include running the offense at the speed which Kelly wants and he can show the timing and accuracy to make deep throws downfield.

Because of his delayed start to the offseason, which forced him to mirror Gabbert in all of the drills throughout the OTAs and the first day of minicamp, at this stage Gabbert has a leg up in the race. However, it is doubtful Kelly has made his decision yet about who starts. Whoever competes better in camp will undoubtedly start Week 1 against the Los Angeles Rams on Monday Night Football.

If the emphasis is on a lot of play-action, Kaepernick has the leg up per Pro Football Focus:

Above all else, Kaepernick needs to show the mental strength to survive adversity and the desire to be great. He sorely lacked these attributes last season which led him to a very poor half-season and then a humiliating benching.

The 49ers are better off if one of these guys is the clear-cut winner in the QB competition. Arguably Kaepernick is the more talented of the two. But his future as a 49er will largely depend on his performance in this camp.

Next: Eric Rogers