Report: Colin Kaepernick “Virtually Certain” To Not Be Back With 49ers In 2016

Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports reports that the 49ers’ decision to bench QB Colin Kaepernick has “created a climate in which it is virtually certain he is not back in San Francisco in 2016.”

According to La Canfora, the trust between Kaepernick and the 49ers’ organization has eroded to the point where any attempts to rebuild their relationship is “essentially a lost cause.”

Beyond that, the idea of Kaepernick playing for the 49ers in 2016 is viewed as a “non-starter.”

As of now, Kaepernick has yet to request a trade out of San Francisco, but 49er players seem to think he’ll either request to be traded or released rather than return to the team next year.

Sources close to the situation have told La Canfora that barring a shocking turnaround, they can’t see any way he’ll be back in 2016. Instead, La Canfora’s sources expect there to be a resolution by the time the Scouting Combine is underway in February of next year.

This comes in direct contrast to a report from Ian Rapoport of NFL Media, who mentioned that the 49ers are still optimistic that Kaepernick can be their franchise quarterback, despite the fact that they’ve benched him for Blaine Gabbert.

San Francisco reportedly thinks Kaepernick needs a breather before returning as the team’s starter at some point down the road.

Kaepernick seemed to take issue with HC Jim Tomsula’s suggestion that he needs to “step back and breathe,” saying: “I’m not out of breath.”

Kaepernick, 27, is in the second year of his seven-year, $126.97 million contract that included $61 million guaranteed and stands to make a base salary of $12.4 million for the 2015 season.

While those numbers are impressive on their own, the contract is essentially a pay-as-you-go agreement that includes ways for San Francisco to walk away with limited repercussions.

$14 million of Kaepernick’s deal will become guaranteed in April of next year, which gives San Francisco ample time to consider all of their available options. It’s worth mentioning that parting ways with Kaepernick would create $7 million in dead money for the 49ers.

In eight games this season, Kaepernick has thrown for 1,615 yards while completing 59.3 percent of his passes to go along with six touchdowns and five interceptions. He’s also added 228 yards rushing and a touchdown.

We’ll have more regarding Kaepernick and his future with the 49ers as the news is available.