Harbaugh: Kaepernick emerges as No. 2

SANTA CLARA -- Quarterback Alex Smith is the unquestioned starter. And, now, Colin Kaepernick has moved in a fairly comfortable spot as the backup."I'd say Colin has emerged there," 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh said Tuesday. "And it's been very good. Nothing's set in stone in that regard, but there's been some emergence."Kaepernick provided the offensive highlight for the 49ers on Friday night in the team's exhibition opening victory over the Minnesota Vikings when he kept the ball on a spread read option and ran 78 yards for a touchdown.Kaepernick, a second-round draft pick last year, completed 5 of 9 passes for 40 yards. He also rushed for 92 yards on three attempts.RELATED: Colin Kaepernicks statssplitsgame logs
Josh Johnson and Scott Tolzien are also in the competition for spots on the depth chart. And Harbaugh said it's not out of the question the 49ers could keep four quarterbacks on their 53-man roster."We'll do what's best for our football team, what we feel like helps be a better team and win games," Harbaugh said. "This is one of those things that was foreseen that we have four very good quarterbacks. These are four quarterbacks who'll play a very long time in this league. We knew it would be very competitive."Harbaugh said the 49ers' offense never takes a bad rep in practice because of a quarterback not knowing his assignment of being unable to make every throw in the playbook.Smith will start Saturday's exhibition game against the Houston Texans, with Kaepernick, Johnson and Tolzien to follow (in that order), Harbaugh said."There are things that are taking shape, but these games are very important, as we knew they would be," Harbaugh said. "Thought that it would come down to some of these games and how they'd play in practice and the games as being equally as important."Also, Harbaugh said the 49ers expect tight end Delanie Walker (right knee) to be available for the regular-season opener Sept. 9 against the Green Bay Packers. Walker sustained the injury during practice Sunday at Candlestick Park.