Chip Kelly announced Tuesday that Colin Kaepernick will take over as the 49ers' starting quarterback this week against the Bills.
"We need to improve on the offensive side of the ball and this is the decision we’ve made," Kelly said.
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The move is not a shocker given constant media pressure accompanying Gabbert's struggles. He has failed to reach 200 passing yards in all but one game this season, and his play has contributed to a 1-4 start for San Francisco.
Kaepernick and the 49ers reportedly were restructuring the QB's contract so his full injury guarantee would go away. Essentially, it allows San Francisco to play the quarterback and not be on the hook for his $14.9 million base salary next spring if he suffers a serious injury to trigger the guarantee.
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"It's a football decision," Kelly said when asked about the contract. "I don't even know where his contract status is."
