For the past week, San Francisco 49ers QB Colin Kaepernick has been held out of practice with a shoulder/arm issue. On Wednesday, Kaepernick did some light throwing, but did not take part in the full team practice. Although Kaepernick has been held out of practice, GM Trent Baalke disputed previous reports that Kaepernick is battling a dead arm.
"'Fatigued' is the better word," Baalke said. "... This is a just, a young man who went out and his arm's tired. So rather than push it further, let's back it down, give him some time to rest it. We don't have to be ready to play a game just yet. This is preseason football.
The 49ers have been cautious with Kaepernick after he said there was "tightness" in his shoulder, which required surgery in the offseason. Kaepernick has $14.5 million guaranteed for injury, which has lead to speculation that the 49ers are holding him out so they don't have to pay him. Baalke dismissed that claim as well.
"No facts," Baalke said. "… Like we maintained all along, Kap's going to be given every opportunity, just as Blaine [Gabbert] is, just as Christian [Ponder] is, just as Thad [Lewis] was. They're given every opportunity to earn that role."
Kaepernick had asked for a trade from the 49ers this offseason, but it never came to fruition. He's now battling with Gabbert for the starting QB job. Baalke said Kaepernick will do more Thursday and that the 49ers will bring him along "as we see fit."
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