The San Francisco 49ers report for training camp on Saturday, July 30, and at that point the quarterback competition could take a big step forward. Colin Kaepernick has been rehabbing injuries to his shoulder, knee, and thumb, and has been getting regular checkups in Vail, Colorado, where the surgeries took place. On Tuesday, Matt Maiocco reported Kaepernick is back in Vail for one last checkup before the start of camp.
When players arrive in Santa Clara later this week, they will take physicals. If any players still have injury issues, the team will announce which those that will start camp on the PUP and NFI lists. All indications at this point are that Kaepernick’s injuries will be fine and he’ll be ready to go for camp. He spent most of the offseason workout program rehabbing his injuries, but was able to take part in some team drills during the final three-day minicamp. He was looking a bit thin compared to before the injury, so he likely spent a lot of the past two months working on building his muscle mass back into form.
The 49ers first practice is scheduled for Sunday, July 31. The first preseason game is Sunday August 14. That gives the two quarterbacks two weeks to take the proverbial bull by the horns. My guess is one player starts the first game, and the other player starts the second game, but we’ll see as the games approach. The starter in that first preseason game is not necessarily the player who will win the job, but it will certainly be a boost.