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Colin Kaepernick news: QB 'ready to go' and hopeful of making NFL return

Colin Kaepernick taking a knee

Former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick hasn't played in the NFL since 2016 but wants to stage a comeback.

Colin Kaepernick says he's "still hopeful" of making a return to the NFL six years after being snubbed by the league for taking a knee during the American national anthem.

Kaepernick has been speaking with the Seattle Seahawks, who recently parted company with long-time quarterback Russell Wilson, with coach Pete Carroll saying he deserved a second chance in the NFL

Fellow quarterback Kaepernick started taking a knee in 2016 as a protest against police brutality and social injustice in the United States, but his actions were met with criticism from the likes of President Donald Trump.
NFL team owners were also not enamoured with Kaepernick's actions and despite leading the San Francisco 49ers to a Super Bowl during his time in the league he went unsigned when his contract expired.

Kaepernick has since been an advocate and campaigner for social justice in America, but his voice and profile has scared NFL teams off from even giving him a chance to show he can still play quarterback in the league.

Colin Kaepernick on the comeback trail

Kaepernick's latest workout came up in Seattle, and he's previously thrown to Seahawks receiver Tyler Lockett who proclaimed him ready to play in the NFL. Kaepernick says he's still hoping.
"We've been getting positive responses," Kaepernick said at his workout. "Trainers and organisations my agent has talked to have been positive.
"We're still hopeful. There's been a lot of conversation around it. We've had conversations with Pete and John (Schneider - Seahawks GM) previously.
"As Pete mentioned, we've spoken recently and I'm still hoping that door is open and get a chance to walk through it."
The 34-year-old says he can still throw the ball, and just wants to the chance to show his skills to NFL coaches, after previous attempts were thwarted at the last minute.
"My arm is still alive and still ready to go," Kaepernick added. "More than anything, we're looking for that opportunity to come in, get some work in and show them what I can do.
"More than anything, we want that opportunity to showcase where I'm at and let decisions be made from there."

Roger Goodell admitted NFL was wrong over Kaepernick

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell admitted that the league "should've listened to our players earlier" on the kneeling for the anthem, and also encouraged teams to look at bringing Kaepernick back into the NFL.
Goodell's apology came back in 2020 though, and even approaching two years later Kaepernick has still not been given a chance to resurrect his career.
Kaepernick threw for 12,271 passing yards in 69 regular season games over his six years in San Francisco, passing for 72 touchdowns and running in another 13 from 2,300 rushing yards as one of the most powerful running quarterbacks we've seen in the league.

Adding another 1,374 passing yards, seven passing touchdowns and four rushing touchdowns in six playoff games, Kaepernick may not have displayed an elite arm, but he certainly was of starting quality especially combined with his immense running ability.

Kaepernick still holds the record for the most rushing yards in a single game by a quarterback in NFL history, with his mind-boggling 181-yard game against the Green Bay Packers in the 2013 playoffs.

Kaepernick also played well in the Super Bowl the 49ers eventually lost to the Baltimore Ravens, throwing for 302 yards and a touchdown and adding 62 rushing yards and a score as he led what was almost a miraculous comeback.

Trailing 28-6 and following a blackout at the Superdome in New Orleans, Kaepernick led the 49ers comeback to get to within two points at 31-29 before Baltimore just managed to hold out.

Whether Kaepernick can regain that kind of form is another matter, but there's a host of QB-needy teams in the NFL and not a huge amount of quality players going around, while the upcoming NFL Draft class is weak in the QB department.
There are a host of teams either without a starter or with a dubious one that would struggle to match Kaepernick's ability on his day.
As he continues to tour the United States working out, it looks like Kaepernick's day to try and salvage his career could actually be on the way.
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