SAN DIEGO — Colin Kaepernick passed for 103 yards after kneeling alongside teammate Eric Reid during the national anthem before the San Francisco 49ers’ 31-21 preseason victory over the San Diego Chargers Thursday night.
Kaepernick and Reid, a starting safety who wasn’t playing, declined to stand for the anthem before a preseason game dedicated to military appreciation by the Chargers. Kaepernick has decided not to stand to protest American racial injustice and minority oppression. He also vowed to maintain his boycott of the US national anthem after being roundly booed.
He then played a solid first half in his competition for the 49ers’ starting job, going 11 for 18. The veteran didn’t have an interception or a touchdown pass, missing on two potential scoring throws in the waning seconds of the half. He also rushed four times for 38 yards.
Kaepernick is in competition for the starting job with Blaine Gabbert, who didn’t play in San Diego after getting extensive playing time in the first three preseason games for the Niners (2-2).
Kaepernick hopes to be the 49ers’ starter, but he is likely also in competition for a roster spot after a disappointing 2015 season during which he lost his starting job and had extensive injury problems.
He didn’t play in the current preseason until last week against Green Bay, when his refusal to stand for the anthem first gained attention.
Kaepernick got only scattered boos before the game and during the anthem, but Chargers fans serenaded him while he led a 16-play, 85-yard scoring drive to open the game capped by DuJuan Harris’ 1-yard TD run.
Christian Ponder passed for 101 yards and rushed for the go-ahead touchdown for San Francisco with 3:08 to play, improving his own chances for a prominent job in the Niners’ fluid quarterback picture.
Marcus Rush got his fifth and sixth sacks of the preseason in the second half of a standout performance by the San Francisco linebacker. After Rush forced a fumble that led to Ponder’s TD run, he intercepted a deflected pass.
Kelvin Taylor sealed the Niners’ win with a 10-yard TD run with 1:55 left.
Kenneth Farrow rushed for 63 yards and a third-quarter touchdown for the Chargers (1-3), who rested their stars. Isaiah Burse caught a 17-yard TD pass from Mike Bercovici in the third quarter during strong performances by both roster hopefuls.
Chargers fullback Chris Swain, a rookie from Navy, also scored on a 2-yard run in the second quarter.
In Detroit, Dwayne Washington took a handoff to the left and with a burst of speed, the rookie running back got to the outside and up the sideline for a 58-yard touchdown to likely seal his chances of earning a spot on Detroit’s opening-day roster.
Jake Rudock probably boosted his chances, too, with three touchdown passes to help the Lions close the preseason with a 31-0 win over Buffalo Bills.
“So many guys played well,” Detroit coach Jim Caldwell said. “It’ll make it tough on us in terms of making decisions.”
In Philadelphia, Jets quarterback Bryce Petty threw a 44-yard touchdown pass to Robby Anderson before injuring his shoulder, but a pair of big plays helped the Philadelphia Eagles beat the New York Jets 14-6 in their NFL pre-season finale match.
Paul Turner returned a punt 71 yards for a touchdown and Ed Reynolds took an interception 90 yards for a score to help the Eagles (4-0) complete an undefeated preseason for the first time since 2012, when they finished 4-12 in Andy Reid’s last season as coach.
Petty’s injury could solve New York’s quarterback dilemma. Geno Smith, a former starter, is expected to back up Ryan Fitzpatrick for the second straight season. Rookie Christian Hackenberg is a second-round pick, so his spot should be secure. The Jets (1-3) are considering keeping all four quarterbacks on the roster, but Petty could end up on injured reserve. — Agencies
