Former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick has written a letter to the New York Jets offering his services to the struggling team.
In a letter released by the rapper J Cole on Instagram, Kaepernick – who addresses Jets general manager Joe Douglas – says he would be “honored” to join the team and “lead the practice squad” with “the sole mission of getting your defense ready each week.”
Following Aaron Rodgers’ season-ending Achilles injury in the team’s opening game of the year, the Jets – who lost to the New England Patriots on Sunday to drop to 1-2 on the year – have been forced to turn to Zach Wilson as their starting quarterback, who has floundered in the position.
“I am sure of my ability to provide you with an elite QB option if, God forbid, QB1 goes down,” Kaepernick wrote. “However, I know that there may naturally be uncertainties from you and possibly from others about my playing abilities.
“This plan, I believe, allows me to be of great service to the team as a practice squad QB, while also giving you a low-commitment chance to assess my capabilities to help in any other capacity you may see fit.
“Worst case scenario, you see what I have to offer and you’re not that impressed. Best case scenario, you realize you have a real weapon at your disposal in the event you ever need to use it. In either of these scenarios, I would be committed to getting your defense ready week in and week out, all season long, and I would wear that responsibility like a badge of honor.”
Wilson, the former No. 2 overall pick in 2021, has struggled in his two seasons since joining the Jets, a key reason for Rodgers’ acquisition in the offseason.
And since being thrust back into the starting line-up, Wilson has continued to show why he was benched in favor of Rodgers. Although he was able to lead the team to an opening week victory over the Buffalo Bills, the Jets have since gone on to lose to the Dallas Cowboys and the Patriots with Wilson looking scrambled and out of sorts.
It has led to calls for the team to look at other options at quarterback with Joe Namath, the only quarterback to win a Super Bowl with the Jets, becoming the latest to call for the team to make a change.
“I wouldn’t keep him,” Namath said on The Michael Kay Show on 98.7 ESPN New York. “I’ve seen enough of Zach Wilson. All right? I’ve seen enough.”
The Jets addressed those calls somewhat by signing veteran quarterback Trevor Siemian to the practice squad on Tuesday to add depth at the position.
The questions surrounding Wilson’s permanency at the helm of a team with playoff aspirations continue to swirl though and the void is something that Kaepernick says he is willing to help address.
The 35-year-old explained that if he was signed to the practice squad, he would be able to provide the team’s defense with a better opportunity to prepare against a mobile quarterback and allow team executives to be able to evaluate Kaepernick’s ability without putting pressure on Wilson.
Kaepernick hasn’t played in the NFL since 2016 after his refusal to stand for the national anthem ahead of games to protest police brutality and racial injustice while he was with the San Francisco 49ers sparked controversy.
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