San Francisco 49ers Kaepernick Trade Imminent? QB Benched After 'Awful' Start

by Francis Mansueto / Nov 04, 2015 02:45 AM EST

Colin Kaepernick throws a pass during the San Francisco 49ers v St Louis Rams game

The San Francisco 49ers' Kaepernick trade rumors are gaining traction, after the embattled quarterback was benched for their next game on Sunday, Nov. 8, 2015, according to Pro 32. Colin Kaepernick will be replaced by Blaine Gabbert, a first-round pick by the Jacksonville Jaguars back in 2011.

Kaepernick learned of the benching shortly after their 27-6 loss to St. Louis Rams. Head coach Jim Tomsula hinted that everyone is getting evaluated, and a lineup change was imminent. As the 49ers standing worsened to 2-6, there was no other choice but to pull the struggling quarterback from the starting lineup, according to Yahoo! Sports.

Kaepernick's performance in the past few weeks took a turn for the worse, passing for a measly 286 yards in the last two games, according to sources. They haven't scored a touchdown too, which is quite rare for the quarterback.

Sources say that by moving him from the starting post, the management could be aiming to encourage him to perform better, or validate the San Francisco 49ers' Kaepernick trade rumors.

Blaine Gabbert, Kaepernick's replacement, was taken by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the 2011 Draft. He was picked 10th overall, while Kaepernick is 36th in the same draft year. Gabbert was largely considered a bust in his Jacksonville stint, according to ESPN. He was projected to be the franchise quarterback of the Jaguars, but never realized his potential.

Gabbert threw for 22 touchdowns, but was intercepted for 24 times in his 28 games with the Jaguars, according to his NFL.com profile. He is said to have played just one game in a 49ers uniform since he was traded back in 2014. He is currently under a two-year $4 million contract, ending this coming 2016.

Kaepernick, on the other hand, is on the hook for $126 million, but his contract provision allows the 49ers to cut him easily due to bad play. The quarterback will be owed $16.7 million if he is not cut by Apr. 1, 2016. Severing ties with their quarterback could save the 49ers $6.9 million in cap space next year, according to Yahoo! Sports.