Former 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick wants to capitalize on Aaron Rodgers season ending injury to get back into the NFL.
Kaepernick, who pioneered kneeling during the National Anthem to protest police brutality in 2016, hasn’t played in the NFL since leading the 49ers to a dismal 1-10 record the same year.
At 35-years-old, the former starter wants the Jets to fill the “Hall of Fame sized hole” that Rodgers left behind by offering the team a “risk-free contingency plan” of letting him “lead the practice squad.”
In a letter that was shared on Instagram by rapper J. Cole, the former 49er said he would be able to keep “the team on a Super Bowl track,” by getting the defense ready to face off with the likes of Patrick Mahomes, Russell Wilson, and Jalen Hurts.
NEW: Social justice warrior Colin Kaepernick, who once compared the NFL to slavery, is now begging the New York Jets to be on their practice squad.
Why would he want to be a ‘slave’ again?
In the letter, Kaepernick argued that he deserved a spot on the team.
“Worst case… pic.twitter.com/0XSqpRuaWj
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) September 27, 2023
“It gives your Defense the advantage of getting a truer read on the more mobile/athletic/versatile quarterbacks it will face when in weeks 4, 5 and 6,” he listed as an advantage of hiring him.
Kaepernick made it clear the practice squad would just be a stepping stone, even though he claims to not be trying to get waffling Zach Wilson’s QB1 job.
“This would also allow you guys as an organization to take a real look at where I’m at football wise, in game-like situations against an elite defense, while also not putting any competitive pressure on Zach,” he added.
Kaepernick pointed out that he has not stopped training in the six years he has been out of the league, “in hopes that an opportunity will present itself.”
“I am sure of my ability to provide you with an elite QB option if, God forbid, QB1 goes down,” Kaepernick noted.
“Worst case scenario, you see what I have to offer and you’re not that impressed,” he concluded.
“Best case scenario, you realize you have a real weapon at your disposal in the event you ever need to use it.”
Prior to writing the letter, Kaepernick’s agent reportedly contacted the Jets right after Rodgers went down in the first quarter of his debut game on the team.
According to CBS Sports’ Josina Anderson Sept. 13 tweet, “the Jets are not pursuing Colin Kaepernick to address their immediate need for QB depth.”
The #Jets are not pursuing Colin Kaepernick to address their immediate need for QB depth.
I’m told they’ll look to at least narrow down their options today.
The current* mindset is to bring a QB in who fits the chemistry of Zach Wilson being the guy, & knows system &/or staff. https://t.co/y0hdLlRArE
— JosinaAnderson (@JosinaAnderson) September 13, 2023
“I’m told they’ll look to at least narrow down their options today,” Anderson wrote.
“The current* mindset is to bring a QB in who fits the chemistry of Zach Wilson being the guy, & knows system &/or staff.”
That quarterback is 31-year-old veteran Trevor Siemian, who played a single game for the team in 2019, before he was taken out with a season-ending ankle injury.
He has since played for the New Orleans Saints and Chicago Bears over the last two seasons, and recently lost out on being Cincinnati Bengals backup to Joe Burrow in training camp.
Siemian was signed to the Jets practice squad on Tuesday, as Wilson continues to struggle with only a 52.4% pass completion rate, after the Jets’ 15-10 loss to the New England Patriots on Sunday.
Former franchise quarterback Joe Namath slammed Wilson after his second straight loss.
“Send him to Kansas City to back up against somebody like [Patrick] Mahomes and maybe learn something. I wouldn’t keep him,” he told Michael Kay on Monday.
“I’ve seen enough of Zach Wilson, all right? I’ve seen enough. Has quick feet, can throw a little bit, but I don’t believe what’s going on up there.”
"This is what teams have to go through and there's adversity points in every season..
I think we need to hold our poise a little bit better and it's really tough not being there with those guys" ~ @AaronRodgers12 #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/UYPFdmXKpz
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) September 26, 2023
Rodgers blasted Namath right back in a Tuesday appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show.”
“I said to [the team] in the preseason, our toughest task is handling success and that’s whether we’ve having success or not having success. That doesn’t mean you’re winning all the time and got to handle it the right way,” Rodgers remarked.
“When we’re not having success, how do we respond? How do we respond to adversity,” he questioned.
“And that goes to our fan base and former players as well. You’re not helping the cause. You’re not helping the cause.”