SANTA CLARA – When the 49ers’ offense lined up for the first reps of training camp, Colin Kaepernick was on the field.
Kaepernick and Blaine Gabbert split the first-team reps as the 49ers opened camp on Sunday at the team’s practice facility. Coach Chip Kelly devised a plan in which Kaepernick and Gabbert received a dozen of the 24 first-team practice plays of 11-on-11 work during the 1-hour, 41-minute practice.
“That’s the way the competition goes and you’ve just got to make the most of your opportunities,” Gabbert said. “This isn’t the first quarterback competition I’ve ever been in, and it definitely won’t be my last. So when you’re out there, you’ve just got to make the most of your opportunities and go out there and have fun.”
Stay in the game with the latest updates on your beloved Bay Area and California sports teams! Sign up here for our All Access Daily newsletter.
Kaepernick, who spent most of the offseason program rehabilitating from shoulder, thumb and knee surgeries, was noticeably thin during the offseason. On Sunday, he said his weight and strength are fully back.
“There was a lot of weight I needed to get back and a lot of mobility that I needed to keep while I did that,” Kaepernick said. “So my body feels good. I feel ready to go.
“(I’m) definitely putting a lot of weight back on. I don’t look like my high-school self anymore. I feel like I look more like an adult now.”
In team drills, Kaepernick completed six of nine pass attempts, while Gabbert completed seven of nine passes.
San Francisco 49ers
Kaepernick threw the only interception of the day, which came during 7-on-7 drills. Cornerback Keith Reaser jumped a route and intercepted Kaepernick’s pass intended for Quinton Patton. Immediately afterward, Kelly was seen talking to Kaepernick.
“We were just talking about the route, how to get through it,” Kaepernick said. “Working on football things.”
Depth chart: Jimmie Ward opened with the 49ers’ first-team defense at right cornerback. In the 49ers’ nickel package, Ward moved inside to cover the slot receiver as the nickel back with Reaser taking over at right cornerback.
The 49ers’ first-team offensive line consisted of left tackle Joe Staley, left guard Zane Beadles, center Daniel Kilgore, right guard Andrew Tiller and right tackle Trent Brown. The second O-line was Erik Pears, Ian Silberman, Marcus Martin, Brandon Thomas and John Theus, while the third group was Colin Kelly, Fahn Cooper, Alex Balducci, Joshua Garnett and Anthony Davis.
Michael Wilhoite lined up with the first-team defense at inside linebacker, alongside NaVorro Bowman.
This ‘n’ that: Bruce Ellington, DeAndrew White and Bryce Treggs practiced fielding punts from Bradley Pinion. White muffed one of his attempts. . . Ellington and Eric Rogers had three receptions apiece during 11-on-11 drills. . . Cornerback Dontae Johnson had two passes broken up, while rookie Rashard Robinson stripped the ball loose from DiAndre Campbell after an apparent reception. Practice concluded with Shayne Skov breaking up a pass at the sideline. . . It was a busy day in Santa Clara. Outside linebacker Aaron Lynch disclosed that his four-game suspension for violating the league's policy on substances of abuse was the result of a diluted sample. A diluted sample is viewed as a negative test, according to the league's policy. Lynch said he appealed his suspension and lost. . . General manager Trent Baalke said he knew there would be plenty of speculation about his own job security when he promoted Tom Gamble last week to assistant general manager. . . Anthony Davis said he played last season at 365 to 370 pounds. He reported to camp in much better physical and mental condition.
Daily transactions: The 49ers placed safety Jaquiski Tartt on active/non-football injury list with a quad strain. The injury is expected to keep Tartt out of action for “a couple days,” Kelly said. Players on active/non-football injury can be cleared at any point in training camp to begin practice.
Injury report: Nose tackle Glenn Dorsey (knee), safety L.J. McCray (knee) and rookie cornerback Will Redmond (knee) passed their physicals and will gradually be worked back into full practice, Kelly said.
Mystery injury: Nose tackle Ian Williams is out for the season after sustaining a left ankle injury and undergoing surgery. He was placed on reserve/non-football injury. General manager Trent Baalke declined to divulge how Williams sustained the injury. When an injury to former NFL tight end Kellen Winslow Jr. was referenced, all Baalke would reveal was that Williams did not sustain the injury from a motorcycle accident.
Next practice: The 49ers will have a non-padded practice Monday, beginning at 10:25 a.m.