Chip Kelly has no plans to switch 49ers' starting QB

SANTA CLARA - 49ers coach Chip Kelly said Monday he isn’t ready to make a quarterback switch after his offense struggled in consecutive road losses to Carolina and Seattle.

Kelly said Colin Kaepernick, the backup, isn’t physically ready to start while Blaine Gabbert ranks 31st in the NFL in completion percentage and 30th in passer rating through three games.

Kelly’s offense managed just 254 yards in the 37-18 loss to the Seahawks on Sunday.

“Kap is our number two right now and everybody wants to know why Kap isn’t our number one. I don’t think Kap is 100 percent right now,” Kelly said.

“I think his playing weight has been around 225 and he’s not at that right now. He’s going out there and continuing to work, continuing to get better. He had a serious layoff in times in terms of being able to medical rehab.

“To get the full Kap for what you need, the potential that he has, he needs to continue to just work on the physical aspect of things.”

Kaepernick missed the bulk of the offseason program recovering from three surgeries since November. He was placed on injured reserve Nov. 21 to have surgery on his left shoulder before having two more procedures on his right hand and left knee in January.

He missed the first two preseason games nursing a fatigued throwing shoulder which set him back while competing for the starting role.

Kaepernick was the only member of the 49ers working out on the team’s practice field Monday while Kelly addressed reporters. Players are given Mondays off.

Kaepernick made headlines in the preseason when he first elected not to stand during the national anthem before games in protest of racial inequality and police brutality.

On Sunday, Gabbert didn’t eclipse 100 yards passing until 2:03 remaining with a completion to Rod Streater. The offense didn’t convert a third down until the fourth quarter after starting 0 for 10. At that point, the Seahawks led 37-3.

“I think sometimes everybody keeps pointing specifically to the quarterback, but it’s not like the offensive line’s playing tremendous, the running backs are doing everything, the wide receivers are doing everything and we’re just not getting good quarterback play,” Kelly said. “I think it’s the entire group offensively. We need to convert.”

Kelly said Kaepernick received increased practice time leading up to the loss in Seattle, working as the scout team quarterback to help the starting defense better prepare for Russell Wilson and the Seahawks, who run a similar scheme to Kelly’s.

The defense was equally problematic for Kelly on Sunday.

The 49ers were down at halftime 24-3 after allowing two rushing touchdowns to Christine Michael on Seattle’s first two possessions. The Seahawks had 331 yards in the first half.

Michael finished with 106 yards rushing. Receiver Doug Baldwin and tight end Jimmy Graham had 164 and 100 yards receiving, respectively.

DAVIS RETIRES AGAIN

Offensive lineman Anthony Davis informed the team Monday that he has once again retired from the NFL.

Davis sat out last year in part because of concerns over a concussion before deciding to return to the 49ers this summer. He suffered another concussion in practice on Sept. 15 and has not played since before the team announced his retirement Monday.

Davis was slated to start at right guard, but missed the final practice before the season opener for non-injury reasons. He then became the backup swing tackle, but got hurt before he could play again.

Davis was a first-round pick in 2010 and a key part of San Francisco’s three consecutive trips to the NFC title game from 2011-13.