San Francisco 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh backs backup QBs
By Phil Watson
After a 34-0 preseason loss to the Denver Broncos to open new Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, San Francisco 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh stood by his backup quarterbacks.
According to Matt Maiocco of Comcast Sports Net Bay Area, via Twitter:
Jim Harbaugh said 49ers will not look for another QB. "We got good quarterbacks," he said.
— Matt Maiocco (@MaioccoNBCS) August 17, 2014
After starter Colin Kaepernick went 5-for-9 for 39 yards while playing just the first two series, the 49ers’ quarterback play was not exemplary.
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Backup Blaine Gabbert was 8-for-14 for 40 yards and threw an interception, which was actually a major improvement from last week’s 3-for-11 for 20 yards and a pick against the Baltimore Ravens.
The 49ers have produced a total of three points in lopsided preseason losses to the Ravens and Broncos.
Third-stringer Josh Johnson was 2-for-3 for nine yards against the Broncos and is now 8-for-11 for 72 yards in two games and No. 4 quarterback McLeod Bethel-Thompson was 6-for-8 for 79 yards Sunday, but also threw an interception. Bethel-Thompson is 9-for-15 for 105 yards and two INTs.
The 49ers traded a sixth-round pick to the Jacksonville Jaguars in March to get Gabbert, who was the Jags’ first-round pick (No. 10 overall) in 2011.
Johnson was signed as a free agent in May and Bethel-Thompson signed a reserve/future contract with the club in January.