CNN –
Former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick has written a letter to the New York Jets offering his services to the struggling team.
In a letter posted by rapper J Cole on Instagram, Kaepernick – addressing Jets general manager Joe Douglas – says he would be “honoured” to join the team and “lead the practice squad” with ” the only task is to make your own defense fit”. every week.”
After Aaron Rodgers’ season-ending Achilles tendon injury in the team’s opening game of the year, the Jets – who lost to the New England Patriots on Sunday and fell to 1-2 on the year – were forced to turn to starting quarterback Zach Wilson, who is on this position has begun to falter.
“I am confident I can provide you with an elite QB option if, God forbid, QB1 is out,” Kaepernick wrote. “However, I know that you and possibly others may of course have insecurities about my playing abilities.
“This plan, in my opinion, allows me to be of great benefit to the team as QB of the practice squad while also giving you a non-binding chance to evaluate my abilities to assist in any other capacity you see fit.”
“Worst case, you see what I have to offer and you’re not that impressed. Best case scenario, you’ll discover that you have a real weapon in case you ever need to use it. In any of those 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 forced back into the starting lineup, Wilson has continued to show why he was benched in favor of Rodgers. Although he was able to lead the team to a win over the Buffalo Bills in Week 1, the Jets have since lost to the Dallas Cowboys and the Patriots, with Wilson appearing bewildered and confused.
This has led to calls for the team to explore other options at quarterback, with Joe Namath, the only quarterback to win a Super Bowl with the Jets, being the latest to call for the team to make a move.
“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. In order? I’ve seen enough.”
The Jets responded to those demands by signing veteran quarterback Trevor Siemian to the practice squad on Tuesday to add depth at the position.
But questions continue to swirl around Wilson’s durability at the helm of a team with playoff aspirations, and Kaepernick says he’s ready to fill that void.
The 35-year-old explained that if he were signed to the practice squad, he could give the team’s defense a better opportunity to prepare for a mobile quarterback and would allow team managers to assess Kaepernick’s abilities without putting pressure on Wilson.
Kaepernick hasn’t played in the NFL since 2016 after his refusal to stand for the national anthem before games to protest police brutality and racial injustice while with the San Francisco 49ers sparked controversy.
Ezra Shaw/Getty Images
Kaepernick drops back to pass during the 49ers’ game against the Seattle Seahawks on January 1, 2017.
In March 2017, Kaepernick opted out of his 49ers contract and became a free agent, but no NFL team signed him. In October 2017, he filed a complaint against the NFL, claiming that teams colluded to deny him a job. The quarterback settled the dispute with the NFL in 2019.
In the letter, he addressed questions about his long absence from the NFL and said he remained ready.
“Unlike many of the veteran quarterbacks mentioned in the media, I never retired or stopped training. My training schedule has been the same for 6 years; Monday through Friday, 5 a.m. to 8 a.m., training on the field and in the weight room. I have followed this training plan for the past six years without fail, hoping that an opportunity will present itself.”
In his letter, Kaepernick also listed references for Douglas, including two of his former 49ers head coaches, Jim Harbaugh and Chip Kelly, as well as Las Vegas Raiders owner Mark Davis.
Despite being unable to help on the field, Rodgers is trying to do his part by being a calming influence on the rest of the Jets team as one of the veterans in the locker room.
The 39-year-old said on “The Pat McAfee Show” on Tuesday that he wanted the entire team to “take a few breathers,” but at the same time called for more unity as a whole.
“I think there are too many little side conversations and we need to grow up a little bit on offense, band together and do our job – everyone – and not point the finger at each other, and that goes for everyone,” he said four-time NFL MVP.
“Don’t point fingers at the coaching staff, don’t point fingers at each other, just get back to work and get the job done.”
Michael Owens/Getty Images
Rodgers is helped off the field after suffering a season-ending injury during the game against the Buffalo Bills.
Rodgers added: “It’s more of the side stuff that I don’t like. I want us to stick together even in difficult times.
“I told them in preseason. Our most difficult task is dealing with success. Whether we succeed or not doesn’t mean we always win; you have to deal with it properly. How do we react when we don’t succeed? How do we respond to adversity? And that also applies to our fan base and our former players. You’re not helping the cause.”
The Jets’ schedule doesn’t get any easier, however, as they host the reigning champion Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday night.