San Francisco 49ers

49ers coach Tomsula backs QB Gabbert heading into preseason opener

Published Aug. 13, 2015 5:09 p.m. ET

foxsports

In four NFL seasons, Blaine Gabbert has yet to do much to instill much confidence in others around him.

He's complied a 5-22 record as a starter and boasts a 23:24 touchdown to interception ratio, to go along with a 53.2-percent completion rate.

However, San Francisco 49ers head coach Jim Tomsula has faith in his backup signal caller.

“I’m a believer in Blaine Gabbert. I am, just point blank,” Tomsula said. “We’re building a team, in terms of the on-the-field play and the team -- Blaine Gabbert, that’s a beautiful piece.”

Gabbert was acquired from the Jacksonville Jaguars in a trade last March, and is expected to see a majority of the playing time in the preseason opener at Houston on Saturday.

It would take an unlikely turn of events for Gabbert to see consistent playing time in the regular season, but regardless, Tomsula doesn't seem worried how he'll perform on the field.

(h/t San Jose Mercury News)