San Francisco 49ers: Alex Smith Ruled Out; Colin Kaepernick Gets First NFL Start
By Josh Sanchez
November 11, 2012; San Francisco, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) looks to pass the ball against the St. Louis Rams during the second quarter at Candlestick Park. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-US PRESSWIRE
The San Francisco 49ers and their fans could be getting a good look at their future during tonight’s Monday Night Football game against the Chicago Bears.
ESPN’s Chris Mortensen reported that 49ers starting quarterback Alex Smith has been ruled out of the game after he was not cleared by an independent neurologists one week after suffering a concussion.
It is surprising news.
All of last week, word was that Smith was on track to play for the 49ers on Monday night, but that was before the neurological exam. Smith must have had a setback over the weekend and things went south.
In his absence, Colin Kaepernick will get the start.
Monday Night Football will feature a battle of back up quarterbacks with Kaepernick and the Bears Jason Campbell.
Kaepernick is a dynamic, dual-threat quarterback that has captured the imagination of 49ers fans when he has taken the field in limited action this season. The former Nevada star has a cannon for an arm and deceptive speed for a quarterback. He has drawn comparisons to Randall Cunningham and is expected to be the future of the San Francisco franchise.
The young signal-caller will face a tough task in his first NFL start against the Bears defensive unit, but a solid performance will go a long way in showing that he is the real deal.