Colin Kaepernick has written a letter to the New York Jets where he has requested to be signed to their practice squad.
Former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick has reached out to the New York Jets' General Manager, Joe Douglas, expressing his interest in joining the team's practice squad.
This unexpected move comes in the wake of former Green Bay Packers star quarterback Aaron Rodgers suffering a serious injury during Monday Night Football, leaving the Jets with a potential void to fill in their roster.
The revelation of Kaepernick's letter to the Jets' general manager was initially made public by rapper and songwriter J. Cole, who shared the typed note on his X account on Tuesday, according to TMZ.
Kaepernick, 35 years old and out of the league since 2016, opened the letter with a nod to the team's championship aspirations, stating: "I'm writing, of course, in response to the unfortunate loss of Aaron Rodgers. I know the aspirations this season were, and still are, to win a championship, and so that Hall of Fame-sized hole will need to be filled as best as possible to keep the team on a Super Bowl track."
However, the former San Francisco 49ers star clarified that he wasn't vying for the starting quarterback position, despite the Jets currently facing a dire situation in their QB room.
Kaepernick explained: "As much as I would love the opportunity to fill that [starting] 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."
In the NFL, practice squads are composed of 16 players who practice with the team during the week but do not participate in games, often facing sacrifices for less money and recognition compared to their active roster counterparts.
Kaepernick emphasized his willingness to prepare the Jets' defense each week, stating: "I would do this with the sole mission of getting your defense ready each week."
He also expressed confidence in rookie quarterback Zach Wilson, who has been struggling in his early NFL career. Kaepernick said: "I believe a confident Zach Wilson has the tools to do this. However, in the event that this is not the case, I would love to offer you a risk-free contingency plan."
Despite being away from the game for several years, Kaepernick remains resolute about his abilities, saying: "I am sure of my ability to provide you with an elite QB option if, God forbid, QB1 goes down."
The former Super Bowl starter highlighted his continuous training efforts, distinguishing himself from other veteran quarterbacks who have made headlines with potential comebacks.
Could we see Kaepernick back in the game soon?