The 49ers begin the final week of their voluntary offseason program with quarterback Colin Kaepernick continuing to take an active role despite not being cleared for football activity.
Meanwhile, offensive tackle Anthony Davis, who was repeatedly expressed his intent to attempt a comeback this season, has yet to file paperwork to be reinstated off the NFL’s reserve/retired list, a league source told CSNBayArea.com on Tuesday.
Kaepernick underwent season-ending surgery to repair a torn labrum in his left (non-throwing) shoulder in late-November. The rehabilitation was expected to take approximately six months. Shortly after the season, Kaepernick also underwent surgeries on his right thumb and his left knee.
Kaepernick has attended every session of the 49ers’ voluntary workout program since it began on April 4. Kaepernick regularly lines up behind approximately 10 yards behind the quarterback during drills and goes through the footwork and "mental reps." Kaepernick is in line to earn a $400,000 workout bonus for completing at least 90 percent of the offseason program.
The offseason concludes next week with the 49ers’ only mandatory minicamp. Kaepernick may not be medically approved for full participation during the practices, which are scheduled for June 7-9. It appears the 49ers might hold off on clearing him for football activity until the start of training camp in late-July.
Kaepernick is expected to compete against Blaine Gabbert for the 49ers’ starting job to open the regular season on Monday, Sept. 12, against the Los Angeles Rams.
Davis, 26, who started at right tackle in all 71 games in which he appeared since entering the league in 2010, has suggested he will apply for reinstatement to attempt to play in the NFL in the upcoming season. He intimated via a quickly-deleted post on Twitter over the weekend that he still plans to try to play football this season.
Davis was placed on the reserve/retired list last June after announcing he would “take a year or so away from the NFL” to allow his brain and body “a chance to heal.”
The 49ers control Davis’ rights, if he chooses to apply for reinstatement and attempt a comeback. He does not count against the team’s 90-man roster while he is on the retired list. Therefore, he is under no obligation to attend the team’s mandatory minicamp next week as long as he remains retired.
