SANTA CLARA, Calif. _ Colin Kaepernick's sore right shoulder will keep him out of the 49ers' exhibition season opener Sunday against the Houston Texans.
Kaepernick did not throw in Thursday's and Friday's practices, although he expressed minimal concern in describing his right shoulder's issue as "just tightness."
Blaine Gabbert drew the starting assignment and thus reprised the role he filled the second half of last season. Gabbert had split first-team reps with Kaepernick through the first nine practices.
Gabbert and rookie Jeff Driskel were the first quarterbacks out for warmups.
Also out for the 49ers are safety Eric Reid (personal reasons), defensive tackles Arik Armstead (shoulder) and Glenn Dorsey (knee) defensive back L.J. McCray (knee), and wide receiver Eric Rogers (knee).
