Chip Kelly says Gabbert won't play Thursday, Kaepernick still among his top two QBs

SANTA CLARA, Calif. _ Chip Kelly on Tuesday said Colin Kaepernick remains one of his two best quarterbacks and that he will decide on his Week 1 starter sometime after Thursday's preseason finale in San Diego.

Kelly said Kaepernick would play in that game _ though he's unlikely to line up behind the starting offensive line _ but that Blaine Gabbert would not. The reason, Kelly said, is that Gabbert has taken 43 snaps in the preseason this far while Kaepernick only has 13. Kaepernick missed the first two games because of a fatigued throwing shoulder.

There's been speculation recently that despite competing for the starting job Kaepernick might not make the 49ers' initial roster.

Kaepernick will earn $11.9 million this year no matter the outcome. But the 49ers would save $2 million in roster bonuses if he is not on the roster, and more significant, would not be at risk of Kaepernick suffering a serious injury. If he were still hurt beyond April 1, the team would owe him another $14.5 million.

Kelly insisted there's been no discussion about the final roster yet. He noted that he's ultimately not in charge of the 53-man roster. That responsibility falls to general manager Trent Baalke, whose relationship with the quarterback is strained.

"I don't have control of the 53-man roster, so I don't say who we're picking," Kelly said. "We haven't had one discussion about the quarterbacks."

Kelly said he and his staff have not gone over the lineup for Thursday. But it sounds as if few would-be starters, if any, will play in the game. Safety Antoine Bethea, linebacker NaVorro Bowman and outside linebacker Ahmad Brooks sat out Friday's game against Green Bay.