Colin Kaepernick Injury: Updates on 49ers QB's Thumb, Shoulder Surgeries | News, Scores, Highlights, Stats, and Rumors
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Kaepernick Schedules Hand Surgery
Tuesday, Jan. 5
Kaepernick will the procedure to repair a ligament tear in his right hand on Wednesday, per Mindi Bach of CSN Bay Area.
Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee reported on Monday it will take three months for a full recovery.
Kaepernick Advised Not to Attend Games
Sunday, Dec. 20
"Kaepernick planned on attending today's game, 49ers medical staff advised against it, per sideline safety protocol with his shoulder," reported Cam Inman of the Bay Area News Group.
Latest on Kaepernick's Timeline for Recovery
Tuesday, Nov. 24
CSNBayArea.com's Matt Maiocco reported that Kaepernick is expected to miss four to six months while recovering from surgery on his torn labrum.
Citing a source, Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee reported that the doctor who performed the surgery (Dr. Peter Millett of the Steadman Clinic) said the tear was "extensive."
Kaepernick Regressed as Passer Prior to Injury
The Niners opened the season with Kaepernick at quarterback, but he struggled terribly as the team sputtered to a 2-6 start. Over that eight-game stretch, he completed 59.3 percent of his passes for 1,615 yards, six touchdowns and five interceptions.
However, even some of that underwhelming production was misleading. Kaepernick compiled 542 yards and four touchdown passes in the fourth quarter—almost all of which came in garbage time.
Not surprisingly, San Francisco opted to hand Blaine Gabbert the keys to the offense.
"This was just a decision that I just felt like I wanted Colin to step back and breathe," head coach Jim Tomsula said in early November, per ESPN.com's Paul Gutierrez. "Look at things through a different lens. Keep preparing, keep doing his thing, keep working, but just step back and take a look at things, OK."
Per Barrows, Kaepernick originally hurt his shoulder in Week 4 against Green Bay, though the extent of the injury wasn't known until a recent MRI.
The midseason drama was compelling, given how Kaepernick's play has declined over the past few seasons. But the more intriguing storyline is how his future will shape up.
According to Over the Cap, the guarantees in Kaepernick's contract don't vest until April 1. As a result, the team could cut him and only be responsible for paying a prorated portion of his signing bonus, per Gutierrez and ESPN Stats & Information.
Considering Kap is due $11.9 million next season and $14.5 million in 2017, per Spotrac, it may be in the franchise's best interest tactically and financially to cut ties with the streaky passer.
