Colin Kaepernick wasn't shy about calling a spade, a spade when he met with reporters on Tuesday.
The quarterback called Sunday's 26-6 loss against the Chicago Bears "a step backwards" for the 2016 San Francisco 49ers. Snowy conditions at Soldier Field limited San Francisco to six net passing yards on a day where Kaepernick was benched in the fourth quarter in favor of Blaine Gabbert.
Quarterbacks coach Ryan Day informed Kaepernick on Tuesday that he will remain the team's starter in Week 14 against the New York Jets.
"We have to get back on track this week," Kaepernick said ahead of his eighth start of 2016. "We have to put that work in, make sure everybody's prepared, the mindset's right and once again, move onto New York."
Kaepernick completed 1-of-5 pass attempts against the Bears for four yards. Gabbert went 4-of-10 passing for 35 yards. Collectively, the two quarterbacks were sacked six times. The snow certainly played a factor, but there have been no excuses made in that regard by anyone in the 49ers locker room.
"Elements always play a factor, but you have to be able to handle the elements. That's part of football," Kaepernick said. "That's part of what we get paid to do and we have to do a better job with that.
San Francisco's offense will look to get back into a similar form when it posted 475 yards in Week 12 against the Miami Dolphins. Kaepernick accounted for 409 total yards and three touchdowns in the game. The 49ers also converted 50 percent of their third-down attempts for the first time all season.
As San Francisco prepares for a home game against the Jets, it's doing so without Chip Kelly. The 49ers head coach is currently away from the team following the death of his father. Kelly attended a funeral service on Tuesday and is expected back at 49ers HQ later in the week.
"Our thoughts and everything are with him," Kaepernick said. "You never want to see anybody have that happen to them, have that happen to a family. But, we have to do a good job as players and coaches that are here of making sure that we're on top of the game plan and preparing for Sunday."
The Jets are coming off of a 41-10 loss to the Indianapolis Colts on "Monday Night Football." Starting quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick was benched midgame with Bryce Petty taking over. New York's head coach Todd Bowles announced that Petty would get his audition for 2017 and start the final four games of the season.
A matchup against a second-year quarterback combined with New York's reeling defense could provide Kaepernick with a golden opportunity to earn his first win as a starter and San Francisco's second victory of 2016.
