Colin Kaepernick declined to complain about the San Francisco 49ers' decision to bench him but did take issue with some of the ways he has been characterized by Jim Tomsula and Geep Chryst.

Asked whether he agreed with Tomsula's assessment that he needed to "step back and breathe," Kaepernick said, "I'm not out of breath, so I don't understand that reference."

"I don't believe in pressure," he said. "Pressure is not being prepared for what you want to do. To me, I've played full seasons and had success. Mentally, I've been through it before. I'm not incapable of going through this."

Kaepernick is enduring his worst year since taking over for the concussed Alex Smith in Week 9 of the 2012 season, posting a Total QBR of 47.6, 6.7 yards per attempt, a 6-to-5 touchdown-to-interception ratio and a completion rate of 59.3 percent.

"They told me they were going to sit me, and that was the extent of the conversation," Kaepernick said of the Niners' decision earlier this week. "That decision is out of my control, and I respect their authority."