A quick observation of quarterback Colin Kaepernick and how he played in the San Francisco 49ers' 17-13 win over the Washington Redskins in Week 12:

Colin Kaepernick is not the talkative type -- unless, of course, you ask Chicago Bears defensive end Lamarr Houston, or the nearby ref from Week 2, or his social media following -- as he prefers to let his play on the field do the talking.

But before Sunday’s win, Kaepernick was asked by veteran NaVorro Bowman to speak to the team and break the pregame huddle, an honor usually bestowed upon Patrick Willis. But with Willis recuperating from surgery on his big left toe, someone had to give the speech, and the show-it-rather-than-say-it QB accepted.

“Everyone told me to step up, so I did,” Kaepernick said. “To me it’s a big honor that your teammates want to hear from you before the game.”

Kaepernick responded by leading the Niners' first-team offense to its first fourth-quarter touchdown drive of the season. And his plus-4.1 pass grade from Pro Football Focus, after completing 7 of 9 passes for 117 with a TD and a 155.8 passer rating while being blitzed, was a season high.

Then could Kaepernick see himself again breaking down the pregame huddle?

“That,” he said, “will be up to my teammates.”