49ers' Kaepernick to start Week 6

The San Francisco 49ers have reignited the Colin Kaepernick era.

Head coach Chip Kelly announced Tuesday that Kaepernick will be the starting quarterback for the Week 6 game against the Buffalo Bills.

Blaine Gabbert started the first five games of the season and will now act as Kaepernick's backup.

The 49ers and Kaepernick were reportedly renegotiating his contract to ease the long-term financial risk of using the quarterback, but Kelly said that wasn't a factor in his decision.

"It's a football decision. I don't even know where his contract status is," said Kelly.

Kaepernick has a guarantee in his contract that San Francisco would be on the hook for his 2017 salary if he suffers a serious injury. The new deal would reportedly cut out the remaining years of his contract and the injury guarantee, allowing him to move on after the season.

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Kaepernick, who started 47 games for the 49ers from 2012-15, is now presumably fully healthy after an offseason dominated by injuries. He underwent shoulder surgery, and Kelly recently said he wouldn't consider reinserting him as a starter until he's is back to 100 percent.

The 28-year-old made headlines by sitting during the national anthem during the preseason, which has sparked intense debate and caused many other NFL players to follow his lead.

Kaepernick has knelt for the anthem before every regular-season game so far, and could now face greater scrutiny due to his position as starter.