All season, the thinking has been that Colin Kaepernick is playing his last year for the 49ers.
But as this season progresses and the team’s nightmare gets worse, Kaepernick is starting to look like the young, dynamic quarterback who took this franchise to a Super Bowl just a few years ago.
On Sunday against the Dolphins, Kaepernick put up 409 yards (296 passing, 113 rushing) while throwing three touchdown passes in a 31-24 loss to the Dolphins in Florida. While the team lost its franchise-record 10th straight game to fall to 1-10, Kaepernick has shown in recent weeks that he’s getting more and more comfortable in Chip Kelly’s offense and can be a dual-threat weapon.
“He’s gotten better and has progressed as the games have gone on,” Kelly told the media after Sunday’s game. “I thought Kap did a good job.”
Kelly cited Kaepernick’s ability to keep plays alive with his legs. His speed on scrambles and designed runs can break the back of opposing defenses. He also noted Kaepernick had a slow start this season, coming off injuries and then being rusty as the backup to Blaine Gabbert.
“It’s the live reps that are so invaluable,” Kelly said. “When you look at most teams with good quarterbacks, they’ve been in their system for a long time and have been comfortable with their system.”
Of course, Kaepernick continues to have some holes in his game. He’s completing just 55.3 percent of his throws – a career low – and has especially been unsuccessful on longer throws. But he also has perhaps the worst receiving corps in the NFL and the running game hasn’t been strong enough to take the pressure off the passing attack.
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But some are starting to wonder if Kaepernick’s continued rise might prompt the 49ers to keep him after this season.
Wrote Dieter Kurtenbach of Fox Sports: “Over his last four games, Kaepernick has looked comfortable and aggressive in the 49ers’ offensive system – which seems stunted by a lack of talent – and has completed 60 percent of his passes for an average of 277 yards per contest to go with eight touchdowns and two interceptions.”
Added Kurtenbach: “If this keeps up, why would the 49ers let him go at the end of the year? He’s the team’s best quarterback since … Colin Kaepernick.”
Kurtenbach adds, too, that San Francisco has so many holes on its roster that taking a quarterback with the No. 1 pick in the 2017 draft isn’t necessarily the right move. The 49ers could pick up Kaepernick’s option for next season at $16.5 million, and fill other holes.
Certainly, he argues, Kaepernick’s stock is rising. Even if he doesn’t stick with San Francisco, he’s proving what he can do for other teams.
