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Report: Surgery reveals 'extensive' tear in Kaepernick's shoulder

Ezra Shaw / Getty Images Sport / Getty

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick underwent surgery Tuesday to repair a torn labrum in his left, non-throwing shoulder and now faces a four-to-six month recovery timetable, Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee reports.

The injury was apparently significant, as the doctor who performed the surgery, Dr. Peter Millett of the Steadman Clinic in Vail, Colo., described the tear as "extensive," a league source told Barrows.

Kaepernick injured his shoulder in a Week 4 loss to the Green Bay Packers, but the full extent of the injury wasn't known until he underwent an MRI last week.

The 49ers must decide whether to keep, trade, or release Kaepernick by April 1, when his $11.9-million salary for 2016 becomes guaranteed. General manager Trent Baalke said Sunday that talk of Kaepernick having played his last snap for the 49ers is premature.

In the meantime, the 49ers will roll with a quarterback group that includes Blaine Gabbert, undrafted rookie Dylan Thompson, and McLeod Bethel-Thompson, whom was signed to the practice squad Tuesday.

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