Three reasons Colin Kaepernick can save the 49ers

1. Internal support system

From the first snap Kaepernick takes on Sunday, his 2016 season will become about football and only football. The news cycle swirling around him sparked by his national anthem protest might continue to swirl on the outside, but within the 49ers organization, Kaepernick will be seen as the starting quarterback expected to win football games.

Torrey Smith, among many other 49ers, was quoted in late August on his thoughts about Kaepernick’s protests. “We all have conversations about things like this all the time so I think it’s a bigger thing publicly than it is in the locker room,” Smith said.

Chris Ault, Kaepernick’s former coach at Nevada, wrote for the Reno Gazette-Journal in late August his thoughts on his former player. “Guys like him can make a difference,” Ault wrote. “But it’s just a lot easier to make that point when you’re excelling on the field. I’m hoping that the vicious competitor I know steps up and becomes a difference-maker for all his endeavors — on and off the field.”

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It’s quite possible that the external media storm will amp up and distract Kaepernick given he has never had to operate strictly as a quarterback with this large of a spotlight on him. It has been almost a year since he was a starter in this league. He will probably be rusty, patience will be required but panic might probably ensue.

We will see which way Kaepernick swings beginning on Sunday.