The San Francisco 49ers still have a decision to make about the quarterback position, but if Colin Kaepernick is on the roster when Week 1 rolls around, ESPN is going full tilt on the National Anthem protest.
The network announced on Thursday that they will broadcast the National Anthem from the 49ers Week 1 Monday Night Football game against the Los Angeles Rams. The game is the second of ESPN’s season-opening doubleheader. The game will air on ESPN, but if the Steelers-Washington game is not complete, the Anthem will be broadcast on ESPN2. The game will eventually then air on ESPN.
The big question right now for 49ers fans is whether or not Kaepernick will be on the roster when the game gets here. The 49ers quarterback situation is a mess, with no other significant options aside from Blaine Gabbert. Would the team cut Kap and roll with Gabbert and one or both of Jeff Driskel and Christian Ponder? Chip Kelly said Kaepernick was one of the two best quarterbacks on the team earlier this week, but he also does not have final say on the 53-man roster.
And so, it’s time for a poll. Depending on what happens tonight, we might do this again tomorrow, but for now, here you go. This is not whether you think he “should” be on the team Week 1. It is simply a prediction of whether or not he will be on the roster.