Kap to rest against Broncos; 49ers aim for return next week
49ers’ plan is to have arm-weary QB ready for next week’s game
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — If all goes according to the 49ers’ plan, arm-weary quarterback Colin Kaepernick will make his exhibition-season debut next week and definitely not this Saturday night against the host Denver Broncos.
“Hopefully we can get him back full next week so we can get a game under his belt,” coach Chip Kelly said Thursday before the 49ers second straight day of practicing at the Broncos’ facility.
Kaepernick showed no discomfort and had zip on the ball Thursday as he threw 47 passes on the side but not against the Broncos defense.
“They’re easing him back into throwing right now,” Kelly said. “Talking to him, he says he feels really good about it. But we don’t want to throw him back out there and have a setback right now.
“From what we understand, it’s not a long-term thing.”
Kaepernick looked 100 percent during his two throwing sessions Thursday with assistant equipment manager Doc Dressler. Kaepernick warmed up with 10-yard passes before progressing to 15 and 25 yards. Running back Carlos Hyde caught a few of those passes, too.
Kaepernick hasn’t thrown in team drills since last Wednesday, the result of what he initially called a tight shoulder but the team has since classified as a tired arm. Kelly termed it a “muscle” issue Thursday.
“It’s like a lot of times when you have a muscle injury, all of a sudden ‘Hey I feel great,’ and then all of a sudden the guy re-injures it, because they push it too far,” Kelly said. “So we want to err on the side of caution and make sure he’s 100 percent as we get rolling.”
Blaine Gabbert is expected to start at quarterback against the Broncos, with his backups being rookie Jeff Driskel and the newly acquired Christian Ponder.
In an intriguing twist n for the offensive line, Anthony Davis moonlighted away from right tackle and lined up at right guard for the first time since his 2006 freshman year at Rutgers.
“A few weeks ago, I told coach that if it would help us, I’d be willing to play there,” said Davis, who is coming back after missing last season on a health sabbatical.
Trent Brown has taken all the first-team reps at right tackle in training camp, and seeing how Brown’s frame (6-foot-8, 355 pounds) is too big to cram into a guard spot, Davis wanted to give himself a try.
Davis (6-5, 323) lined up at right guard for the first two snaps of team drills. He lined up more as the second-string right tackle.
“I’m an athlete. I can play right tackle or anywhere on the line,” Davis said. “We want the best five (lineman) on the field, and Trent is not going to play guard.”
Brown, a seventh-round draft pick last year, started the final two games his rookie season. Center Daniel Kilgore applauded Davis’ efforts Thursday, but Kilgore also cautioned to not make a big deal about that potential position switch, saying the 49ers are just “trying to get a feel where guys can play.”
Andrew Tiller has been the first-team right guard most of camp and resumed that role after Davis’ dalliance there. Another option is Joshua Garnett, a firstround draft pick who’s been backing up Zane Beadles at left guard.
Outside linebacker n Aaron Lynch did not practice, having been poked in the eye in Wednesday’s practice, which he left after getting in a fight.
Blaine Gabbert and n the offense rebounded Thursday after looking far over-matched Wednesday. Gabbert went 3-of-4 passing in a red-zone drill, completing touchdown throws to Garrett Celek (two) and Quinton Patton.
“We got a lot of great work in, a lot of long practices, a lot of good work for our offense against a great defense,” Gabbert said. “There’s been nothing but positives that come from it.”
DeAndrew White and n Bryce Treggs saw a lot of action, especially as slot receivers, while Bruce Ellington remained out of team drills with a sprained ankle.
Hall of Famer Charles n Haley isn’t an official coach but he’s spent most of training camp mentoring the defensive linemen, with Kelly’s full consent. How long will that continue? “Charles can do whatever he wants,” Kelly answered. “I’m serious, because I’m not telling him he’s got to leave.” For more on the 49ers, see Cam Inman’s Hot Read blog at blogs.mercurynews. com/49ers.