ST. LOUIS (AP) — Two games without a touchdown puts Colin Kaepernick on the watch list.
San Francisco 49ers coach Jim Tomsula said after a dismal 27-6 loss to the St. Louis Rams on Sunday that he’s evaluating everyone.
Kaepernick led the 49ers (2-6) to just a pair of field goals 10 days after they mustered just three points in a home loss to Seattle. Tomsula declined to assess his quarterback’s play.
“I’m not going to get into all that today,” Tomsula said. “I’ll get into that after we’ve had the opportunity to watch the tape.”
Kaepernick, who has totaled 286 yards passing the last two weeks, said he can’t worry about his job. Blaine Gabbert is the backup.
“To me, I’m doing everything I can to win games,” he said. “Whether they make that change or not is their decision, but I’ll give this team everything I have every week.”
Kaepernick’s contract is not guaranteed after this season. He said he’s had no discussions with management regarding his future.
“I play this game because I love it,” he said. “I don’t play this game for money. I’ll be fine without football if that ever came about.”
The 49ers have lost six of seven, are 0-3 in the division and have lost two straight to St. Louis for the first time since 2004.
They were hit hard by injuries, too, the biggest perhaps to Reggie Bush, who didn’t last long as the replacement starter at running back. Bush, who played in place of injured Carlos Hyde, injured his left knee on a punt return in the first quarter.
Bush will undergo an MRI on Monday for an injury that could be serious. The 49ers totaled 38 yards on 21 carries and Mike Davis was tackled in the end zone for a safety in the first quarter.
“I’m not a doctor, I’m not going to try and be one right now,” Bush said. “We’ll find out after we get some pictures on it.”
Bush slipped and banged his knee on the concrete floor beyond the artificial turf in front of the stands. Browns quarterback Josh McCown had a similar mishap last week when he slipped on the concrete and banged his left arm into the padded wall.
Backup safety L.J. McCray (right leg), tight end Garrett Celek (concussion) and running back Mike Davis (hand) were ruled out at the start of the second half, and punter Bradley Pinion (calf) was sidelined in the fourth quarter.
Todd Gurley rushed for 133 yards on 20 carries, becoming the first rookie to rush for 125 yards in four consecutive games to open his career, and the Rams had three sacks and a safety.
Gurley had a 71-yard touchdown run and Tavon Austin caught a 66-yard touchdown pass and ran for a 2-yard score, compensating for an early lost fumble.
The Rams (4-3) are 3-0 against the NFC West for the first time since 2004, and they’re above .500 this late in the season for the first time since 2006. The St. Louis defense hasn’t allowed a touchdown the last two games, permitting just four field goals.
Both teams were whistled for 93 yards in penalties. The 49ers had a very costly call when Ahmad Brooks was called for grabbing Benny Cunningham’s facemask, negating Brooks’ 41-yard return for touchdown and retaining possession for St. Louis.
“I knew I hit him in the facemask,” Brooks said. “I kind of figured that when I reached the end zone it could potentially get called back, but it wasn’t intentional.”
Gurley was untouched on his 71-yarder up the middle in the second quarter. Defenders lost ground as he picked up speed for the score that combined with a 2-point conversion pass to Jared Cook made it 10-3.
Austin stretched the ball across the pylon on a 2-yard run with 18 seconds to go to put St. Louis up 20-6, a score set up by Cook’s 49-yard reception after a pair of 49ers collided trying to make the tackle.
NOTES: 49ers WR Anquan Boldin (hamstring) was inactive for the first time in three seasons with the 49ers. ... Austin has a career-best seven touchdowns, one more than he had as a rookie in 2013. ... Rams P Johnny Hekker averaged 49.8 yards in eight attempts and the 49ers had minus-1 yard in returns.
