The start of the season was challenging for the New York Jets as they faced the Bills in Week 1. To make matters worse, their newly appointed quarterback, Aaron Rodgers, suffered a severe leg injury after just four plays, forcing him to sit out the remainder of the season.
Currently, the Jets are down to only two quarterbacks: Zach Wilson and Tim Boyle. They’re considering bringing in another seasoned quarterback to bolster their preparation. Colin Kaepernick, a former quarterback, has expressed his interest in making a comeback to the NFL and has informed the Jets about it. Kaepernick expressed, “I just need a shot.”
Just received this text from Colin Kaepernick: “I just need a shot.” https://t.co/tnqMjW4BPc
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) September 12, 2023
However, the Jets are not currently looking at him. It’s been a significant duration since Kaepernick’s last NFL game, seven years to be exact. Despite attempting tryouts with various teams, such as the Raiders, he has yet to secure a contract to play in a game.
Many individuals think that Kaepernick deserved another opportunity in the NFL after his departure from the 49ers. However, given the passage of so many years, it’s challenging to envision him immediately performing at a high level if he does get signed. This update marks the latest development in Kaepernick’s ongoing journey to make a comeback to the NFL.
Why did Colin Kaepernick leave the NFL?
Colin Kaepernick stopped playing in the NFL after the 2016 season. The reason? No teams offered him a contract.
When Kaepernick became a free agent, teams didn’t sign him, which was surprising. Despite his Super Bowl experience and solid skills, teams overlooked him even as a backup option.
Many folks believed the NFL deliberately kept Kaepernick out of the game, a move known as blackballing. This belief came from his protest against police brutality and racial injustice. In the 2016 season, he knelt during the national anthem in every game to shed light on these concerns.
Kaepernick clarified, saying, “I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses Black people and people of color. To me, this is bigger than football and it would be selfish on my part to look the other way. There are bodies in the street and people getting paid leave and getting away with murder.”
His protest caused a divide in the NFL and created tensions between team owners and players. Some believed that owners kept Kaepernick from playing to avoid dealing with these important issues. That’s one reason why Kaepernick sued the NFL for collusion, claiming they conspired against him.
Eventually, Kaepernick settled his lawsuit with the NFL, receiving significant compensation along with Eric Reid, a fellow player. Despite this, he has yet to get another chance to play in the NFL, and it seems unlikely that he will.
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