Colin Kaepernick, 49ers Agree to New Contract: Latest Details and Reaction

The strange relationship between Colin Kaepernick and the San Francisco 49ers has taken another turn, with the quarterback agreeing to a new, restructured contract on Oct. 12, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter and Adam Caplan. 

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported Kaepernick and the 49ers were closing in on the new deal that is going to alleviate concerns about the injury guarantees. Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee reported on Oct. 7 that while the contract looked close, it had yet to be reviewed by Kaepernick's agents.

In addition to those parameters, Rapoport noted the deal will give Kaepernick the option to void it after the 2016 season. 

According to Schefter and Caplan, the two sides "agreed to a restructured deal, wiping out the last four years on the contract and turning it into a one-year deal with a player option to extend the deal for next year."

Schefter relayed other bits of contractual minutiae: 

If Kaepernick doesn't void the contract after the 2016 season, the terms for the 2017 season will be the same $14.5 million salary, but with no guaranteed money, per Schefter. CBSSports.com's Jason La Canfora added on Sunday:

"

Kaepernick's full $12 million salary, plus an additional $1.4 million in future bonuses, are now fully guaranteed in 2016 as well. Furthermore, according to sources, if Kaepernick ends up playing 34 percent of the 49ers' offensive snaps for the season, he gets an additional $1 million in 2016, sources said. If Kaepernick were to play roughly half of the team's snaps for the remainder of the season, he would be on pace to achieve that bonus.

Kaepernick's previous contract, signed in 2014, earned plaudits for being friendly for the 49ers. It included de-escalation clauses from 2015-2020 that could have cost Kaepernick up to $12 million if he didn't play at least 80 percent of the team's snaps and make it to the Super Bowl or be named an All-Pro.

"

The new language to change injury guarantees is also a critical component for the 49ers. His $11.9 million base salary for the 2016 season was protected from injuries and fully guaranteed if he remained on the roster after March 31. 

Kaepernick ended last season on injured reserve with a left shoulder issue that required surgery. He also had procedures in January to fix problems with his knee and thumb. 

In addition to buying the team some peace of mind, the new deal allows Kaepernick to play without the 49ers being worried about owing him money should he get hurt this season, per Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk. 

Tuesday, head coach Chip Kelly named Kaepernick the team's new starting quarterback after Blaine Gabbert led the 49ers to a disappointing 1-4 start. 

"We were very analytical and sat down as a staff and watched tape and went over everything," Kelly said, according to the Associated Press. "We've had a couple days to digest everything where we are. I think offensively, we just need to be better and we just need to make a move."

Now that contractual wrinkles have been ironed out, both sides can breathe a sigh of relief. They can stay together for at least one more season if things are working out, or go their separate ways at the end of the year.