Colin Kaepernick's national-anthem protest is still a hot-button topic across America but not necessarily in the locker room.
An Aug. 28 players-only meeting set the 49ers on their course regarding Kaepernick's quest to stem racial injustice and police misconduct.
"That's really been the last time as a team we've ever talked about the situation," 49ers coach Chip Kelly said Friday. "We recognize and respect Kap's decision, and his constitutional rights to do what he's doing.
"It's sounds like it's been a positive change. There's been a lot of positive things come out of it."
A week after Kaepernick pledged $1 million toward community programs, 49ers CEO Jed York did the same Thursday on behalf of the franchise, with those funds earmarked for the Silicon Valley and San Francisco community foundations.
"Anytime there's conversation about injustices in this country, it's a positive," Kelly said. "And now, instead of just conversation, to take it a step further, like both Colin has done and Jed has done, it's a positive."
Kaepernick is expected to kneel during the national anthem at Monday night's season opener against the Los Angeles Rams at Levi's Stadium. Teammate Eric Reid joined him in that protest before their exhibition finale last Thursday in San Diego. It's unknown if any other teammates besides Reid might kneel with Kaepernick on Monday night.
The Seahawks are expected to show some form of team-wide demonstration at their Sunday opener, and that's prompted the cancellation of a local rally Saturday in the City of DuPont.
It's because of that public outrage that DuPont Mayor Mike Courts announced the city's third-annual Seahawks rally on Saturday will be canceled.
"While I respect the right of NFL players to express themselves, they must also respect the fact that their actions are hurtful to the community," DuPont Mayor Mike Courts said on the city's website. "As I said before, we need to find answers without violence or vitriol. So, until we as a community can find ways to talk and work together, the City of DuPont will not take sides by offering official support of the Seahawks, NFL, or individual players."
Kelly hasn't voiced any displeasure over the anthem protests, which have been mimicked at other sporting events and NFL games across the country, including by the Seattle Seahawks Jeremy Lane, the Denver Broncos' Brandon Marshall and women's soccer star Megan Rapinoe.
"I think our team did a great job with it," Kelly said. "Our squad leaders had a meeting on the Sunday (Aug. 28) after it happened. Then we had a team meeting where Kap addressed the team, and our players listened to Kap's side of it, and they understand and see where Kap is coming from."
Kaepernick will start the season as Blaine Gabbert's backup, a role reversal Kaepernick experienced for only one game last season before going on injured reserve with a shoulder injury.
Kaepernick last started a season as a backup in 2012, though he did relieve Alex Smith on occasion as a dual-threat, zone-read option. Kaepernick had 10 carries for 106 yards as the 49ers got off to a 3-0 start that season.
Could Kelly dispatch Kaepernick in similar fashion? It sounds unlikely, as the coach doesn't see Gabbert's mobility as a massive drop from Kaepernick's.
"Both our quarterbacks have similar skills," Kelly said. "Maybe if you had one quarterback that ran the 40(-yard dash) in 5.4 (seconds), and you have another in 4.5, there's a distinct difference.
"The unique thing here, all three of our quarterbacks have that aspect," Kelly added. "Christian (Ponder) pulled one in the Broncos preseason game and scored a touchdown from 20-something out. Sometimes teams do that when there's a difference between the run-ability of one to two."
