Colin Kaepernick’s quest to make an NFL comeback has included workouts and promising comments from current star players on his behalf over the years.
The former 49ers quarterback has not played in the NFL in six and a half years following his decision to kneel during the national anthem at games to protest police brutality and systemic inequality during the 2016 season. While Kaepernick has not earned another NFL gig, those players don’t believe it is because he lacks the skills to do it.
After a recent workout at the Nike facility with several NFL running backs and wide receivers, it certainly appears that Kaepernick still has the talent to the play at the position as several players praised his throwing mechanics and deep balls in a video on Tuesday.
“Man, he looks great,” said Patriots wide receiver Kendrick Bourne. “He looks good. Arm looks strong. He got a rocket of an arm. … He got another good six years left.”
We Stay Sharp. @usnikefootball #TheOnes pic.twitter.com/Y49JEDiWF3
— Colin Kaepernick (@Kaepernick7) July 24, 2023
Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb shared a similar sentiment to Bourne.
“Deep ball is very nice,” Lamb said. “… He’s still Kaep now.”
Kaepernick went through his first workout with the Raiders in ’22. However, Las Vegas passed on the opportunity to sign him when Derek Carr was still the franchise’s quarterback that included a backup battle between Jarrett Stidham and Nick Mullens.
During a recent interview with Sports Illustrated’s Gilberto Manzano, Kaepernick stated he felt like “there was something else” behind the Raiders’ decision to not sign him.
“I’ve heard a lot of excuses over the years,” Kaepernick previously said. “But most of the time it ends up, ‘Oh, we’re going to see how the guys that we have do.’ … I just want the opportunity to come in, show what I can do on the field. Judge me based upon that, not the political bias that you have.”
