San Francisco 49ers

Despite loss, Gabbert acquits himself well in second start with 49ers

Published Nov. 22, 2015 11:39 p.m. ET

foxsports

Blaine Gabbert is the starting quarterback by default for the remainder of the season, but he is showing the San Francisco 49ers he is deserving of the job.

Despite a 29-13 loss at the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday, Gabbert put together another solid performance in his second start since replacing Colin Kaepernick. Gabbert finished 22-of-34 for 264 yards and a touchdown against a Seahawks club that held the 49ers to a total of 13 points in the past three meetings.

“The poise he showed today was really good,” San Francisco coach Jim Tomsula said. “He used his feet, used his arm and got himself out of some things. He kept his eyes down the field and made some plays. I’m not into moral victories but that was encouraging.”

With Colin Kaepernick going on season-ending injured reason Saturday, Gabbert is no longer on a week-to-week audition to hold down the starting position. However, he has provided a noticeable lift to the 49ers, who were limited to 142 total yards by Seattle a month ago.

“The mindset has been the same since I started last week,” Gabbert said. “Just take it and run with it. You’re the starter for that week, and that’s how you’ve got to approach things."

Gabbert, who beat Atlanta 17-16 in his first start, gave his team a pulse after Seattle bolted to a 20-0 lead. He directed a nine-play, 92-yard drive just before halftime, capping it with a 19-yard scoring pass to tight end Vance McDonald.

"I thought he did a great job of moving the chains and making plays when he had to," left tackle Joe Staley said. "Blaine’s our guy. And that’s it."