The agents for San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick requested permission from the team to seek a trade, multiple media outlets reported Thursday.
That runs contrary to Thursday’s statements from 49ers coach Chip Kelly, who said Kaepernick wants to remain with the 49ers.
“He wants to be here,” Kelly said during the combine in Indianapolis, according to the Sacramento Bee. “He’s never expressed to me that he didn’t want to be here. He expressed to me that he’s excited about getting healthy and getting going. And we’re excited about him getting healthy and getting going.”
San Francisco general manager Trent Baalke said this week that he “absolutely” expected Kaepernick to remain with the team.
Kaepernick was replaced by Blaine Gabbert as the 49ers’ starting quarterback following the team’s 2-6 start. Kaepernick completed 59 percent of his passes in 2015, with six touchdown passes and five interceptions. His statistics have slipped since leading the 49ers to the Super Bowl following the 2012 season and reaching the NFC Championship Game after the 2013 season.
Kaepernick’s $11.9 million base salary for 2016 becomes guaranteed on April 1, and he is recovering from surgeries to his left shoulder, right thumb and left knee.
Kelly was criticized while with the Philadelphia Eagles for the way he got rid of DeSean Jackson, LeSean McCoy and Evan Mathis.