Maybe the 49ers listened to Jerry Rice, or maybe coach Jim Tomsula had seen enough. Either way, it appears the Niners will make a change at quarterback.
Tomsula was evasive when asked whether he would stay with Colin Kaepernick at quarterback or turn the offense over to Blaine Gabbert. But according to a report from Bay Area sports writer Kyle McLorg, the team will make an announcement this week that Gabbert will start Sunday against the Falcons.
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The #49ers are benching QB Colin Kaepernick, I'm told. He has been informed. Blaine Gabbert is the starter.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) November 3, 2015The Niners are 2-6 after Sunday's 27-6 loss to the Rams, who held Kaepernick to 162 yards on 20 of 41 passing with three sacks. The Niners rank last in points scored and total offense, so clearly this is a change to try to shake things up.
Rice had suggested temporarily benching Kaepernick to "energize the team and provide Colin the spark he needs."
Kaepernick has thrown for 1,615 yards with six touchdowns and five interceptions and has the lowest quarterback rating of his five-year career. But Gabbert might not be any better. Gabbert has been an NFL bust since the Jaguars selected him in the first round of the 2011 NFL Draft. Gabbert has completed only 53 percent of his passes for 4,395 passing yards with 23 touchdowns and 24 interceptions in 27 starts. The St. Louis native was traded to the Niners in March 2014 after three disappointing seasons with the Jaguars.
If Gabbert can provide the Niners with the spark they need, he might be able to resurrect his career and the Niners' season, but those embers are probably cold.