With quarterbacks ailing, 49ers add Christian Ponder

SANTA CLARA - A 49ers team that began training camp with the NFL’s most closely watched quarterback battle found itself on Tuesday merely looking for a healthy arm to get through practice.

The team signed former first-round pick Christian Ponder, who last year spent training camp with the Raiders, to a one-year deal. Earlier in the day, the 49ers went through a short, sloppy practice with Blaine Gabbert and rookie Jeff Driskel as the only healthy quarterbacks.

That’s because Thad Lewis tore his ACL in Sunday’s preseason loss to Houston and is lost for the season while Colin Kaepernick is dealing with a fatigued throwing arm and has not attempted a practice pass in a week. It’s unknown whether Kaepernick will fully take part in today or Thursday’s scrimmage against the Broncos or if he’ll play in Saturday’s preseason game.

Ponder, 28, is part of the same 2011 draft class as Gabbert and Kaepernick. He was taken with the 12th overall pick by the Vikings that year but struggled as Minnesota’s starter.

He had a 59.8 completion average in four years there, threw 38 touchdowns against 36 interceptions and had a 75.9 passer rating.

Ponder (6-foot-2, 230 pounds) joined the Raiders last offseason but was beaten out for a roster spot by backup Matt McGloin. He briefly joined the Broncos last year when their starter, Peyton Manning, was injured.

Kaepernick’s last practice pass occurred during Wednesday’s public session at Kezar Stadium where his throws seemed to lack their usual velocity. He went through most of the team’s spring sessions without attempting a pass as he recovered from three different surgeries, and he said last week that his arm simply hadn’t been used to the number of throws - as many as 102 per session -coach Chip Kelly requires of his quarterbacks in practice.

The 49ers have given the quarterback an MRI to rule out a more severe issue. Kaepernick has been taking part in the recent practices but has been limited to handoffs and quarterback keepers.

He said he dealt with arm fatigue as a high school pitcher and that he usually bounced back quickly from that soreness. Kaepernick said he wanted to get on top of the problem now so that it does not linger into the regular season.

“We’re in preseason practice,” he noted. “We don’t play a game for about another month, so we want to make sure we stay ahead of this before we get to the season.”

His condition, however, has left Gabbert as the only quarterback operating the 49ers’ first-team offense.

Gabbert received all of the snaps would the would-be starters over the last three practices and started Sunday’s game against Houston. He finished 4-10 for 63 yards and a touchdown in what Kelly called an “up and down” performance. Gabbert on Tuesday completed just two passes in team drills during a practice marked by drops, false starts and encroachment penalties.

After Sunday’s game, Kelly denied that Gabbert was now leading what he had previously billed as an even quarterback competition.

“I don’t look at it as a leg up because we’re going to judge them on their opportunities to get in there and go,” he said. “So if Colin gets in there and does a great job when he gets in there, I’m not going to say, ‘Well, he didn’t get as many snaps as Blaine.’ It’s still going to be judged on who moves our offensive football team the best. Who protects the football the best and gives us an opportunity to win games.”

Since November, Kaepernick has had surgeries on his left (non-throwing) shoulder, his right thumb and left knee. All of the procedures were performed at the Steadman Clinic in Vail, Colo., which is a two-hour drive from where the 49ers and Broncos will practice this week.

It’s not known whether Dr. Peter Millett, who was the lead surgeon for the surgery and recovery, will examine Kaepernick this week. The clinic is affiliated with the Broncos.

Kaepernick spent several months rehabilitating in Vail. During that time, the 49ers and Broncos discussed trading Kaepernick, and the quarterback met with Broncos general manager John Elway. The deal ultimately fell through because the Broncos wanted Kaepernick to take a significant pay cut.