The Sports Xchange

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Backup QB Blaine Gabbert, a former first-round pick, played well enough in the preseason to make a bit of a name for himself among San Francisco 49ers fans.

It’s enough to get people talking about a possible quarterback change on a team that’s scored just 10 total points in the last two games.

Asked who would make the call on such a change involving an established quarterback like Colin Kaepernick, coach Jim Tomsula left no doubt.

“I do not have to clear that with anyone,” he insisted. “It is 100 percent my decision.”

If it’s something that’s potentially pending, Kaepernick assured he’s not worried about it.

“I don’t play for job security,” he said. “I go out, I play to win. I’m worried about job security when I step into this building.”

Kaepernick ranks just 35th in passer rating among quarterbacks who have started at least one game this season, and his team is 1-3, so maybe he should be worried.

–When the 49ers take on the New York Giants on Sunday night, they’ll do so with a new linebacker, Gerald Hodges.

Tomsula wouldn’t say what role the inside linebacker would have this week, while insisting the move wasn’t made because of disappointment in starter Michael Wilhoite.

“This became available and we picked up a guy that we think’s a good football player,” Tomsula explained. “(We had) a need for depth. He’s a good football player.

“Michael’s done fine. I mean, we’re 1-3. I have a hard time standing here and telling you anybody has played great or coached great. One and three is one and three.”

–The 49ers hope to have tight end Vernon Davis back when they play the Giants.

Davis suffered a bruised knee in the Week 3 loss at Arizona, then sat out last week’s game against the Green Bay Packers.

But Davis was able to return to practice Wednesday on a limited basis, and Tomsula indicated the goal was to have him going at full speed by week’s end.

Davis had eight catches for 109 yards in the first three games.

NOTES: RB/PR Jarryd Hayne was to blame for a muffed fair-catch attempt in Sunday’s loss to Green Bay, special teams coach Thomas McGaughey said. Safety L.J. McCray had been initially blamed for getting blocked back into Hayne, but McGaughey explained that the former rugby standout had waited too long to signal for a fair catch on the play. … G Alex Boone was allowed to miss Wednesday’s practice as a “veteran’s day off,” a luxury previously afforded only to OT Joe Staley. … ILB Michael Wilhoite has “done fine,” 49ers coach Jim Tomsula assessed Wednesday in the wake of the acquisition of another inside linebacker, ILB Gerald Hodges, from the Minnesota Vikings.