San Francisco 49ers

Colin Kaepernick says offseason weight loss has cost him playing time

Published Nov. 15, 2016 2:07 p.m. ET

Cameron DaSilva

The San Francisco 49ers are one of the few NFL teams that has an ongoing controversy at quarterback. The Browns have something that’s more accurately referred to as a mess, but the 49ers have a legitimate discrepancy between their starter and backup.

Blaine Gabbert has been under center for each of the first three games with Colin Kaepernick in reserve. Coach Chip Kelly hinted that Kaepernick would get a shot sometime soon when he’s healthy, but until then, it’s Gabbert’s team. Kelly said Kaepernick is the backup because he’s not “100 percent,” and even Kaepernick admits that.

He’s lost weight and is still working toward getting his strength and mass back. However, he has a plan for doing so.

“Eat food,” Kaepernick said, via the San Francisco Chronicle. “And a lot of it.”

The reason for Kaepernick’s weight loss is the three offseason surgeries that understandably kept him from working out. He didn’t play much in the preseason and was just a bystander for the most part in training camp, which hurt his development.

There’s still plenty of time for him to get back to his previous playing weight by bulking up a bit, but the 49ers need better play at quarterback sooner rather than later. In the meantime, Kaepernick believes his weight loss is what has led Kelly to stick with Gabbert as the starter.

“I think it’s the fact that my weight isn’t where it was,” Kaepernick said. “My strength is still growing, developing. But, once again, I’m always going to be prepared. Always ready to put it on the line for this team.”

This season, Gabbert has thrown for 532 yards, three touchdown passes and three interceptions, leading the 49ers to a 1-2 record.