Pressure on Colin Kaepernick as he's named 49ers starting quarterback

Colin Kaepernick has been the most talked-about NFL player all year, though none of that buzz can be attributed to his stats.

Kaepernick, the San Francisco 49ers backup quarterback, thrust himself into the national spotlight when he began protesting social injustices by sitting and kneeling during the national anthem. But with Kaepernick on the bench, that spotlight would shift away from him as the anthem faded and the game clock started ticking.

That's about to change.

Dial up the heat and break out your microscopes, because Kaepernick is about to get even more attention.

He's now the 49ers starting quarterback.

After a four-game losing streak with Blaine Gabbert running the offense, San Francisco made the announcement official on Tuesday.

Though his last start came almost a year ago, Kaepernick was once one of the game's brightest young stars.

The now-28-year-old began the 2012 season as a backup. He eventually took over the starting job and led the 49ers to consecutive postseason berths, including a Super Bowl appearance during his first year on the job. Injuries and a gradual decline in performance limited Kaepernick to a reserve role this season, but the 49ers' struggles had many predicting his return to the helm.

Even as a backup, Kaepernick's national anthem protest sparked a significant movement.

NFL players and athletes across different sports have joined in, but there's been significant backlash as well, including lost endorsement deals and death threats. On Monday, Supreme Court justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg called Kaepernick's actions "dumb and disrespectful."

That controversy will only spike as Kaepernick takes on the Buffalo Bills this weekend.

Once again, Kaepernick will find himself in the spotlight, but this time, it won't end after the anthem. All eyes will be on Kaepernick when he gets off one knee and trots out to the field, instead returning to the bench.

Kaep is back.