Colin Kaepernick has not played in the NFL since 2016. Over the last six years, the 34-year-old quarterback has only worked out for one team, the Las Vegas Raiders. The workout was two weeks ago, and Raiders starting quarterback Derek Carr had nothing but good things to say about Kaep.
“I don’t want to speak for everybody in that kind of sense — I don’t want someone mad at me for saying, ‘I think it would be great’ — but I know him and I would get along great,” Carr said Tuesday, following the Raiders’ first mandatory minicamp practice. “I know we have in the past, and I think we would again. I think for the most part, I think he’d get along great with our guys.”
Both quarterbacks were in Northern California from 2014-16 when the Raiders were in Oakland and Kaep was a member of the San Francisco 49ers. The two quarterbacks are also familiar with each other from their collegiate playing days in the Western Athletic Conference with Fresno State and Nevada, respectively.
“I remember our days back then, and just watching him and what he did in college and getting to know him and talking to him on the phone,” Carr said. “I’ve told you guys, I’ve loved my time with him. I think he’s a great guy. He’s been great to be around. I’ve enjoyed being around him, talking with him, competing against him.”
By all reported accounts, Kaep looked good in the workout last month, the only question now is will the Raiders will invite him to training camp to compete for a roster spot?
The current quarterback room includes Carr, Jarrett Stidham, Nick Mullens and Chase Garbers. Removing Carr from the equation, as he is the starter, it seems plausible that Kaep could beat one of the other three out for a roster spot.
Of course the “issue” surrounding Kaep is the reason he hasn’t played in the NFL in six seasons. The former 49ers quarterback peacefully protested police brutality and social injustice by kneeling during the national anthem prior to games, and it caused a lot of uproar.
The right-wing NFL owners colluded to keep Kaep out of the league for fear of his protest angering the racist portion of NFL fans.
There is no other way of looking at the situation, given that the league settled the lawsuit Kaep filed against them. Plus the putrid quarterback play we’ve seen from players with far less ability than Kaep over the last six seasons.
More than enough “time has passed” that this is no longer an “issue.” NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, Raiders owner Mark Davis and Carr have all vouched for Kaep in one way or another, saying he deserves an opportunity to get back in the league.
If for nothing else, a team like the Raiders should invite Kap to training camp and have him show his entire skill set. It will be obvious fairly quickly in that setting if he is able to still play at an NFL level, and if he isn’t the story of Kaep getting back into the league woud end.
