By Dave Del Grande,The Sports Xchange
SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Let the competition begin.
Colin Kaepernick was cleared to participate in all but the 11-on-11 action Tuesday on Day 1 of the San Francisco 49ers’ three-day minicamp.
The former Super Bowl starter took a relatively equal number of snaps during individual and 7-on-7 drills as Blaine Gabbert, the man who replaced him as the 49ers’ starter midway through the 2015 season.
A lot has changed since then, including the 49ers’ hiring of offensive-minded Chip Kelly as their head coach. The new coach has promised a clean slate and fair competition among the two.
Also, since last seen on the field Nov. 8, Kaepernick underwent surgeries to repair injuries to his left shoulder, right thumb and left knee. His rehabilitation following the procedures had kept him out of the club’s organized team activities (OTAs) the last three weeks.
“I wouldn’t say it was a bad first day at all,” assessed wideout Torrey Smith, who, ironically, hauled in a long touchdown pass from Gabbert during the workout. “I’m pretty sure he’ll say that he’s rusty and wants to continue to work, but it’s just cool to see him out there.”
Kelly had told reporters before the club’s first mandatory offseason workout that while Kaepernick was cleared to join the drills, his participation would be limited.
“You’re not going to go from not practicing to full practice,” Kelly said. “You’re going to bring him along gradually. I think it’s just a natural progression.”
If there was a leader in the clubhouse in the quarterback competition after Day 1, it probably was Gabbert.
His most memorable moment was the touchdown pass to Smith. Kaepernick’s, meanwhile, was an interception by cornerback Kenneth Acker.
Smith wasn’t into winners and losers in the first week of June.
“He completed some passes,” he said of Kaepernick. “I don’t think you can ever complain about that.”
Likewise, Gabbert was more focused on the big picture than his own personal battle far in advance of training camp.
“Today was a good day for the offense,” he generalized. “We’re kind of seeing how everything is meshing, going together, different tempos with different styles of play, and the guys did a good job today.”
While Kaepernick is expected to work out with the team Wednesday and Thursday, he has announced he will be headed to Vail, Colo., for a checkup on his surgeries either later this month or early next month.
It is then that he’s expected to be given the full green light for training camp.
The 49ers reported full participation at the mandatory camp with one exception. Defensive back Dontae Johnson, who injured his ankle at the OTAs last week, attended Tuesday’s session but did not participate.
Other than Kaepernick, one other newcomer was on hand who hadn’t been with the team in its previous get-togethers this spring.
First-round pick Joshua Garnett was a full participant after finishing his course work at Stanford. The guard split time on the right and left sides of the line during the drills.
