There has been a rash of injuries to both starting and backup quarterbacks through the first two weeks of the NFL season, and one former NFC champion is still working out hoping for a call. His name is Colin Kaepernick.
SNY’s Chris Williamson spoke with a source close to Kaepernick this week who says the former San Francisco 49ers star is in “literally the best shape of his life.” With several quarterbacks going down already this year, Kaepernick’s agent has been reaching out to NFL teams.
Source close to @Kaepernick7 in light of all the QB injuries: “Colin is literally in the best shape of his life. He’s been working out 5 days a week at 5 am for 3 years. He wants to play and his agent has been contacting teams in need of a QB.”
— Chris Williamson (@CWilliamson44) September 17, 2019
Ben Roethlisberger will be out for the remainder of the season with an elbow injury, while Drew Brees (thumb) Nick Foles (collarbone) and Sam Darnold (mono) are all going to miss several more games. The New York Jets are actually on their third-string quarterback, as Trevor Siemian has been ruled out for the year after suffering a significant ankle injury in Monday night’s loss to the Cleveland Browns. Cam Newton also missed practice Tuesday with a foot injury, and his status remains up in the air.
Does that open up enough room for Kaepernick? The 31-year-old has not played in the NFL since 2016, and there have been no indications that teams are calling him to schedule workouts. Many believe Kaepernick has been blackballed by the NFL after he sued the league and agreed to a settlement, though Eric Reid did the same and eventually found work with the Carolina Panthers.
Kaepernick’s lawyer predicted that one of two teams would sign the former second-round pick to a contract over the winter, but nothing ever came of that. While his name comes up every year when quarterbacks start going down, there’s no reason to believe Kaepernick is any closer to signing with a team now than he was two or three years ago.
