San Francisco 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh has admitted he does not believe that quarterback Colin Kaepernick deserves the criticism he has received this season.

Kaepernick has been accused of complacency in recent games, but Harbaugh said that the third-year player is still hitting the heights that are expected of him.

"I think he's doing a heck of a job," Harbaugh told the club's official website. "I guess I'd be puzzled to why people would think that.

"What's most important is what we see. I'm puzzled to why you or anybody else thinks that."

Last year's Super Bowl runners-up are 6-4 this season, which has led to questions being asked over Kaepernick's performances.