The New York Jets are without star quarterback Aaron Rodgers for the rest of the 2023 season. Rodgers suffered an Achilles injury a mere four plays into his Jet career on Monday night against the Buffalo Bills. As a result, the Jets are left with Zach Wilson and not much depth afterward. Suggestions have been made all over on what the team should do. One such possibility thrown into the room was signing Colin Kaepernick. The former San Francisco 49ers quarterback hasn’t played a down in the NFL in the last seven years after his stance on kneeling during the United States National Anthem all but effectively ran him out of the league.
But with that being said, it appears the Jets balked at that idea. CBS Sports NFL insider Josina Anderson reported early Wednesday morning that the team will not pursue Kaep.
“The Jets are not pursuing Colin Kaepernick to address their immediate need for QB depth,” Anderson said. “I’m told they’ll look to at least narrow down their options today.”
The #Jets are not pursuing Colin Kaepernick to address their immediate need for QB depth.
I’m told they’ll look to at least narrow down their options today.
The current* mindset is to bring a QB in who fits the chemistry of Zach Wilson being the guy, & knows system &/or staff. https://t.co/y0hdLlRArE
— JosinaAnderson (@JosinaAnderson) September 13, 2023
Anderson also said that the team wants someone who will fit their scheme, have the same chemistry Wilson possesses, and have previous knowledge with the staff. Like most job-seeking credentials, that widdles the selection pool down a few pegs.
While Kaepernick faced a difficult situation several years ago, one that many still sympathize with to this day, re-entering the NFL is an unenviable task. Re-entering the league after seven years of absence is probably even more difficult. Seven years out of the NFL might as well be 20 in some cases, with how quickly the game changes and how much better the players get.
So, unfortunately for Colin Kaepernick, the Jets won’t be the team that he returns to the field for. Maybe someday it happens, maybe someday it doesn’t.
