Colin Kaepernick Goes To Injured Reserve, Ending Disappointing 49ers’ Season

It’s far too late in the San Francisco 49ers season to turn it around. But they can get at least a little better offense than what they had.

The 49ers have placed Colin Kaepernick on injured reserve with a left shoulder issue, and the fourth-year quarterback told ESPN he wants to have surgery. Blaine Gabbert started for the team last week in a win against the Atlanta Falcons, and will start the rest of the way.

It’s a sad end to a bad season for Kaepernick, who has thrown six touchdowns and five interceptions on the year. Only three years after leading the 49ers to a Super Bowl loss against the Baltimore Ravens, there are questions as to whether the 49ers will keep the at-times stunning quarterback.

Kaepernick has looked bad this year, but there’s plenty of blame to go around. The offensive line has been overmatched all year, and the run game was mediocre even before Reggie Bush was lost for the year with a torn ACL. Former star Vernon Davis was traded to the Denver Broncos, ending a long stint with the team he was drafted by in 2006. And the defense has been awful after many players (including Chris Borland and Patrick Willis) retired in the offseason.

But it’s hard not to turn some of the blame to the coaching staff. After ownership forced Jim Harbaugh out this offseason, new head coach Jim Tomsula has looked overmatched. The former defensive line coach doesn’t look like he was ready for the top job.

Still, the most important player on an NFL team is the quarterback. Kaepernick wasn’t playing well and has an injury, so he’ll get a lion’s share of the blame. Instead of looking like the exciting phenom that led the 49ers to a Super Bowl, he’s looked pedestrian at best. Here’s hoping Kaepernick can get back to his winning ways.