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Colin Kaepernick Finally Ready For 2016 Action

By Carl Cockerham

Aug 10, 2016; San Francisco, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) warms up during the training camp at Kezar Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Hefti-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 10, 2016; San Francisco, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) warms up during the training camp at Kezar Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Hefti-USA TODAY Sports /
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Colin Kaepernick is finally back!

It was a bumpy road but he is on pace to finally take part in a 2016 preseason game. When the San Francisco 49ers first hired head coach Chip Kelly, the NFL unanimously thought it was a good move. All I hear was about how well Kaepernick would do in Kelly’s offense.

Then there was the trade drama and the rehab Kaepernick had to go through from offseason shoulder surgery. And when he got back, he had to compete for his job with Blaine Gabbert his backup last year. Kaepernick had to rest his shoulder during this competition too.

But Gabbert did nothing to take a stranglehold on the job while Kaepernick was out. And after practicing fully this week, he is expected to play in Friday’s tilt with the Green Bay Packers. Kelly has been split the first-team reps in practice between Kaepernick and and Gabbert this week.

But has not made a determination on Friday’s starter, telling CSN Bay Area Wednesday, “We haven’t discussed it, yet. , We got two days of training to go through. We’ll see. Kaepernick is on track. We’re excited and we’re hopeful he will be ready to go.

“But I’m not going to put the cart before the horse. We have a system. When we get to Friday, we’ll know exactly from [head athletic trainer Jeff Ferguson] who’s up and who’s down. If he’s up, he’s going to play.”

Kaepernick is reportedly back to throwing at his normal velocity this week. And since Gabbert didn’t take the starting gig yet, it all comes down to Friday’s “dress rehearsal.” This is Kaepernick’s chance to take his starting gig back.