SANTA CLARA – One game as the 49ers’ starter has turned into at least two games for quarterback Blaine Gabbert.
Coach Jim Tomsula on Monday spoke with Gabbert and Colin Kaepernick to inform them that Gabbert would remain as the 49ers’ starter after the bye week when the team faces the Seattle Seahawks on Nov. 22.
The decision was made one day after the 49ers were 17-16 winners over the Atlanta Falcons at Levi’s Stadium. The 49ers (3-6) snapped a streak of nine consecutive quarters without a touchdown with two Gabbert scoring passes to tight end Garrett Celek in the first half.
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Tomsula declined to name the starter during his weekly press conference on Monday morning because he said he had yet to address the topic with Gabbert and Kaepernick.
Gabbert, 26, making his first NFL start in more than two years, completed 15 of 25 passes for 185 yards with two touchdown passes and two interceptions.
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One of Gabbert’s interceptions was a well-thrown pass that ricocheted off the chest of receiver Jerome Simpson deep down the field and was picked off by Falcons defensive back Phillip Adams on the deflection.
San Francisco 49ers
“(Gabbert) knew where he wanted to go, what he wanted to do,” Tomsula said on Monday.
Tomsula said there were two passes that Gabbert wanted back. One of his ill-advised throws was a fourth-quarter interception. The other was an incomplete pass.
“But, other than that, putting the ball where it needed to go, finding where it needed to go on the field, the distribution of the ball was good,” Tomsula said.
Kaepernick, 28, started the first eight games of the season for the 49ers. Kaepernick completed 59 percent of his passes with six touchdowns and five interceptions. His passer rating on the season is 78.5.
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The decision to remain with Gabbert as the starter appears to be a signal that Kaepernick faces unlikely odds to remain with the 49ers past the current season. Kaepernick signed a $115 million contract extension through the 2020 season in June 2014.
Kaepernick is scheduled to make $14.3 million next season in salary and bonuses. The 49ers would save $9.368 million on the salary cap next season if Kaepernick is traded or released.