Colin Kaepernick scores first TD as 49ers starter (video)

Colin Kaepernick has arrived as the starter for the San Francisco 49ers.

Tasked with replacing Blaine Gabbert after the team started 1-4, Kapernick didn’t go long into his debut without a major impact.

In the second quarter, Kaepernick dropped a 53-yard bomb on Torrey Smith:

Colin Kaepernick finds a wide open Torrey Smith for his first TD of the season. pic.twitter.com/2kmMtUgtd7

— The Sports Daily (@SportsDailyBlog) October 16, 2016

It wasn’t pretty by any means, but it’s an important step in the right direction for the 49ers. Kaepernick looks like the versatile presence needed in coach Chip Kelly’s offense, though his weight loss over the summer while recovering from an injury derailed his fate as starter.

While the 49ers approached halftime down by a point, Kaepernick having the 49ers competitive on the road in his first start almost assures he’ll see a few more chances.

After the lengthy contract situation and the polarizing nature of his national anthem protests, Kaepernick has gotten off to a fast start in proving he’s the right man for the job.