Colin Kaepernick asks for spot on Jets' practice squad
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[September 27, 2023]
Colin Kaepernick, seven years removed from his last NFL
action, asked the New York Jets if he could join their practice
squad.
The request was made in a letter sent last Thursday to Jets general
manager Joe Douglas. Rapper J. Cole posted a copy of the letter to
Instagram on Tuesday.
The Jets' quarterback situation is the subject of massive attention
after Aaron Rodgers went down with a season-ending Achilles injury
in Week 1. Zach Wilson, New York's starter for parts of the previous
two seasons, regained the role, and he currently ranks last in the
NFL in completion percentage.
Kaepernick, 35, emphasized in his letter that he is not looking to
take Wilson's job.
"I know that there are currently depth issues at the position, and
I've heard that the back-up spot is likely to be filled by a veteran
Quarterback," he wrote. "As much as I would love the opportunity to
fill that spot, I'm writing you in hopes that you can imagine a much
different approach involving me; I would be honored and extremely
grateful for the opportunity to come in and lead the practice squad.
"I would do this with the sole mission of getting your defense ready
each week. If I were able to fill this role for the team, I believe
this allows for multiple things."
He added that he could help the defense get ready to face mobile
quarterbacks in Weeks 4, 5 and 6: the Kansas City Chiefs' Patrick
Mahomes, the Denver Broncos' Russell Wilson and the Philadelphia
Eagles' Jalen Hurts.
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Kaepernick wrote, "Unlike many of the veteran QB's
that have been named in the media, I've never retired or stopped
training. My training schedule has remained the same for 6 years;
Monday through Friday, 5am-8am training on the field and in the
weight room. I've kept this training schedule without failure for
the past 6 years, in hopes that an opportunity will present itself.
I say this to give you some perspective on where I'm at physically."
He signed off by listing as references Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh
and UCLA coach Chip Kelly, his former head coaches with the San
Francisco 49ers; Baltimore Ravens coach John Harbaugh and Las Vegas
Raiders owner Mark Davis.
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Kaepernick played for San Francisco from 2011-16, compiling a 28-30
regular-season record as a starter and a 4-2 mark in the postseason.
He led the 49ers to the Super Bowl after the 2012 season.
His career ended in the 2016 season after he became one of the first
NFL players to take a knee during the national anthem to protest
racism and police misconduct. Kaepernick's action sparked a national
debate about standing for the anthem.
--Field Level Media
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