Blaine Gabbert

Chip Kelly is sticking with Colin Kaepernick as the 49ers starter for now

Published Nov. 15, 2016 1:55 p.m. ET

Nunzio Ingrassia

A day after being coy about who will be the San Francisco 49ers starting quarterback for Week 7, Chip Kelly said on Monday that Colin Kaepernick will remain the starter when the Niners take on the Bucs.

“There’s room where he can grow,” Kelly told reporters at a Monday news conference. “We’re encouraged by a lot of things he did [Sunday] and we’ll continue to build upon that.”

Kaepernick was far from sharp in San Francisco’s 45-16 loss to the Bills on Sunday, completing 13 of 29 attempts for 187 yards and a touchdown in his first start since Nov. 1 of last season. Kaepernick’s touchdown was on an underthrown pass that Torrey Smith adjusted to and ran for 53 yards.

When asked after the game if Kaepernick, who had offseason surgeries on his knee, thumb and shoulder, would remain the team’s starter, Kelly told reporters Sunday, “We’ll see.”

Blaine Gabbert started the first five games for the Niners, completing 87 of 150 attempts for 890 yards with five touchdowns and six interceptions. Kelly said Monday that Gabbert would remain the team’s No. 2 quarterback on the depth chart.

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Blaine Gabbert

San Francisco 49ers

National Football League