Which Colin Kaepernick will show up for 49ers?

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. - Colin Kaepernick’s second chance as the 49ers’ starting quarterback begins today as the autumn leaves peacefully fall in this Buffalo suburb, far away from the chaos that has led him to this point.

Where Kaepernick’s career goes from here is anyone’s guess. No one knows what to expect, not even the man whose No. 7 jersey became this season’s hot seller because of his national-anthem protest rather than his on-field potential.

Will he revert to his 2012 breakout form and befuddle the Bills, poetically blending his running ability on zone-read plays with an assortment of daring, down-field throws that hit their target?

Or will he reappear as the 2015 version that got benched after a 2-6 start littered with sacks, turnovers and overall distrust?

Either way, a new era begins for him at the Bills’ recently renamed New Era Field.

“We’ll find out on Sunday,” Kaepernick told Buffalo reporters on a conference call when asked if he can be the same player he was when he led the 49ers to Super Bowl XLVII and began a three-year reign as the starter.

Kaepernick didn’t have to “lead” that 2012 team the way he would have to take charge of this season’s version. The talent-thin 49ers (1-4) are riding a four-game losing streak that cost Blaine Gabbert the job he held since midseason last year.

Gabbert had kept Kaepernick on the bench by outperforming him in practice. Coach Chip Kelly even said so last week, while reiterating that Kaepernick does not look physically or stylistically like he did in 2013, when the 49ers last made the playoffs.

Gabbert, however, couldn’t outperform rival quarterbacks on game day, so Kelly promoted Kaepernick on Tuesday.

“It’s a great opportunity to go out and win some games,” Kaepernick said. “That’s ultimately what the goal is. We’re going to focus on the Buffalo Bills.”

So Kaepernick is a starter once again. It’s a role befitting someone with an $11.9 million salary that became guaranteed in April, and that sizable figure stifled a potential trade to the Denver Broncos. More contract jockeying ensued this past week, as the 49ers revised his deal to eliminate an injury clause that would have guaranteed next year’s $14.5 million salary, while also granting him a chance to hit free agency March 9.

Kaepernick steps into an offense ranked 31st in total yards per game, and 31st in passing with a receiving corps that’s been almost non-existent, aside from receiver Jeremy Kerley.

“There’s just small things here and there that we need to clean up, we need to correct as a whole,” Kaepernick said, rather than list off negatives such as the 49ers’ penchant for three-and-out drives, ugly overthrows, fourth-quarter interceptions, ill-timed fumbles and conservative calls.

Similar problems plagued the 49ers last season when Kaepernick produced a career-low 78.5 passer rating (144-of-244, 1,615 yards, six touchdowns, five interceptions, 28 sacks).

Before last season, much of the hype centered on Kaepernick improving his ability to read defenses and his touch throws. But nothing went right last year, for him or the 49ers. Trust seemingly eroded between Kaepernick and his linemen, the running game sorely missed an injured Carlos Hyde, and the 49ers’ freefall cost then-coach Jim Tomsula his job.

Kaepernick may be No. 1 on the depth chart again, but he’s not the No. 1 fear for the Bills.

“You’ve got to watch out for Hyde,” Bills coach Rex Ryan said. “That kid is a heck of a back.”