49ers QB Colin Kaepernick resumes throwing during practice

Kaepernick is expected to do some light throwing on Thursday but will not formally practice against the Broncos, Kelly added.

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. – Chip Kelly confirmed what was widely assumed: Colin Kaepernick won’t play Saturday when the 49ers visit the Broncos in their preseason game.

“He’s involved in every discussion”, Kelly said. According to reports, Kaepernick’s threw the football with velocity and he threw as if the shoulder was back to full health after dealing with what he said was “tightness” in the shoulder and what the team called a “tired arm”. “So, as we said before, from what we understand it’s not a long-term thing, it’s about just getting him back into it”.

San Francisco’s backup quarterbacks on Saturday will be rookie Jeff Driskel and recently signed Christian Ponder.

Our models continue to anticipate Kaepernick starting at quarterback for San Francisco this season, now projecting him to throw 493 passes (54.52 completion percentage) for 2978.80 yards with 14.43 touchdowns and 14.44 interceptions.

Kaepernick hasn’t thrown in team drills since last Wednesday, the result of what he initially called a tight shoulder but the team has since classified as a exhausted arm. Blaine Gabbert started that contest and will also start against the Broncos. But, it’s like a lot of times when you have a muscle injury, all of a sudden, ‘Hey, I feel great, ‘ and then all of a sudden you hear the guy re-injures it because they pushed themselves a little bit too far.

We’ve written plenty about this position battle by the Bay, but the reality is simple: If Kaepernick is healthy – and not being stashed away – he’ll eventually play.

Meanwhile, Blaine Gabbert is taking the majority of the first-team reps and establishing himself as the frontrunner in the competition. The 49ers wrapped up a second day of joint practices with the Broncos.

– Hall of Famer Charles Haley isn’t an official coach but he’s spent most of training camp mentoring the defensive linemen, with Kelly’sfull consent.

“Charles can do whatever he wants”, Kelly answered. “I’m serious, because I’m not telling him he’s got to leave”.

“I think he s really been an invaluable tool for us just because of the experience he has”.