If Colin Kaepernick continues to sit during pregame national anthems, 49ers coach Chip Kelly won't object.
"We recognize his right to do that," Kelly said in a media conference call Saturday. "It's not my right to tell him not to do something. That's his right as a citizen."
Kelly said he hasn't spoken with Kaepernick since Friday night's 21-10 loss to the Green Bay Packers, which served as Kaepernick's exhibition-season debut. Kaepernick went 2 of 6 for 14 yards, and he ran four times in 12 snaps.
Kelly said he and his coaches haven't discussed whether Blaine Gabbert will be their season-opening starter over Kaepernick, who Kelly claimed is still in the competition.
Kelly added that Kaepernick's national anthem protest has no bearing on his status within the team and depth chart. Kelly also noted he hasn't heard any Kaepernick-related reaction from players (they had Saturday off), and that they would address it as a team Sunday.
Kelly was unaware of any alleged videos of fans burning Kaepernick jerseys in the wake of Friday's news, even though Kaepernick had sat through anthems earlier this exhibition season.
"He did the same thing in (last Saturday's) Denver game, so we recognize his right to express his feeling," Kelly said, noting that Kaepernick didn't aprise him of his anthem protest.
