var _ndnq = _ndnq || []; _ndnq.push([’embed’]);

ORLANDO — It took a 44-yard touchdown run by Blaine Gabbert to force overtime in the 49ers’ last road win, back in December in Chicago. To pull off the same feat in Sunday’s return to Soldier Field, they’ll rely on a different quarterback’s feet, those of Colin Kaepernick.

Kaepernick’s rushing prowess looks as potent as ever.

In his six starts, he’s run for an average of 62.2 yards per game, more than 20 yards greater than in any of his previous four seasons.

“Part of it is (because) this offense lends itself to that,” Kaepernick said Tuesday. “There’s more opportunities for that, especially being in three-receivers sets most of the time, there’s a lot more space out there, so scramble lanes are bigger.

“When we do run zone read, there’s more space there as well.”

Will Kaepernick be in that same system next year, when he can opt out as a free agent or return for a $14.5 million salary?

“I’m focused on Chicago this week,” Kaepernick answered. “I’m not thinking that far down the road.”

Kaepernick acknowledged, however, that quarterbacks can flourish best in systems they’re familiar with, so they can relate to why coaches call certain plays.

Sunday’s 113-yard effort wasn’t exactly by design, however, in a 31-24 loss at Miami. The majority of Kaepernick’s 10 carries came when he scrambled out pocket-collapsing chaos.

“He’s doing a good job of making that decision,” offensive coordinator Curtis Modkins said. “He’s in control, and when he sees an opportunity he’s taken advantage of it.”

Kaepernick tried doing that on Sunday’s final play, only to get stopped at the Dolphins’ 2-yard line.

Although his legs and torso bent awkwardly on the tackle, Kaepernick declared himself healthy and fresh as the 49ers practice this week at the University of Central Florida before flying Friday to Chicago.

“I feel very fresh, ready to go, ready to do whatever this offense needs me to do to help us get a win,” Kaepernick said.

Kaepernick is 0-6 since replacing Gabbert and hasn’t won a start since last October. He’s 3-16 since a 2014 Thanksgiving loss to Seattle, which is a stark contrast to the start of his career, when he had the fifth-highest winning percentage of any quarterback through 25 starts (.720, 18-7).

Losing hasn’t crimped his statistics, both in terms of rushing and passing. He threw three touchdown passes Sunday for the first time this season and completed 63 percent of his attempts.

“There’s things he can do that are just God-given that a lot of people simply can’t do, and it’s been saving our offense in a lot of ways,” wide receiver Torrey Smith said. “The plays he’s made with his feet, he’s more comfortable with where the ball’s supposed to go in the passing game …

“To be honest, I don’t know where we’d be right now if he hadn’t been playing at the level he’s playing. I know it hasn’t led to wins but offensively we’ve been putting up decent numbers.”

Kaepernick, despite starting only the past six games, is the NFL’s 33rd-leading rusher with 373 yards. His 46 carries aren’t enough to qualify his 8.1-yard average among the leaders, but it would be the league’s best by nearly two yards ahead of a fellow quarterback, Buffalo’s Tyrod Taylor (70 carries, 439 yards, 6.3 ypc.).

“He’s a lot more confident in his run reads, pulling the ball in and getting down field,” tight end Vance McDonald said.

Kaepernick already has one more carry than last season, when he ran for 117 less yards and played behind an inferior line. In 2014,

He holds the single-season franchise record for rushing yards by a quarterback, with 639 yards in 2014; he also ranks third with 524 yards in 2013.

“When the opportunity presents itself, he uses his legs,” Modkins said. “So that helps tremendously, and that’s part of the game and that’s part of his game.”

Modkins said defenses have varied their approach to limiting Kaepernick’s rushing lanes, adding that opponents don’t always have someone athletic enough to match up with his quarterback.

— Linebacker Shayne Skov, in his third season out of Stanford, went on injured reserve after hurting his right knee covering a punt in Sunday’s 31-24 loss at Miami. Skov primarily played on special teams (eight tackles) with limited action on an injury-depleted linebacker unit.

Replacing Skov on the 53-man roster was defensive back Marcus Ball, who joined the 49ers practice squad last week and formerly had stints with the Jacksonville Jaguars, Carolina Panthers, New Orleans Saints and the Canadian Football League’s Toronto Argonauts.

— Outside linebacker Aaron Lynch still looked extremely hindered by ankle issue as he warmed up for practice. Not practicing were outside linebacker Eli Harold (toe), wide receiver Quinton Patton (head), left tackle Joe Staley (undisclosed, possible rest day) and defensive tackle Ronald Blair (undisclosed).

— Defensive tackle Chris Jones “did a great job” Sunday in his 49ers debut and earned a shot at more playing time, according to defensive coordinator Jim O’Neil. Jones started in place of Quinton Dial, who didn’t suit up because of a neck injury.

“He gave a boost to our defense,” O’Neil said. “He was rock solid at the end position for us, took two linemen a lot and allowed (linebackers) Nick Bellore and Gerald Hodges to scrape free to the ball, and I thought that he was one of the reasons we had so much success in the run game.” Jones had two tackles. He had been inactive in the preceding two games since being claimed off waivers from the Dolphins.

— Two weeks after offering a mea culpa before the 49ers loss at Arizona, general manager Trent Baalke again accepted blame prior to their 10th consecutive defeat Sunday in Miami. “It falls strictly on my shoulders,” Baalke told KNBR 680-AM before the 31-24 defeat.

“I feel bad for the fans, I feel bad for a lot of people, the ownership in particular,” Baalke added. “You know, they give us everything we need and I’ve said that. I’ve gone public with that (Nov. 13 at Arizona). If we don’t get it done, put it on me.”

— Linebacker Wynton McManis, who spent training camp with the 49ers, was re-signed to fill Ball’s slot on the practice squad.