Former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick labored out for the Las Vegas Raiders Wednesday, based on a number of sources.
Kaepernick hasn't performed professional soccer since 2016, the season he started kneeling in the course of the nationwide anthem to protest racial injustice.
His alternative to work out for the Raiders, which was reported by ESPN on Wednesday, was the primary time he has labored out for an NFL crew since his exile. He met with the Seattle Seahawks in Could of 2017, however the crew opted to not signal him.
The Raiders do have some historical past with breaking obstacles, so maybe it should not be a shock they're keen to try Kaepernick. Former proprietor Al Davis, the daddy of present Raiders proprietor Mark Davis, was the primary NFL proprietor to rent a Black head coach when he made Artwork Shell coach in 1989. He additionally was the second NFL proprietor to rent a Latino head coach in Tom Flores, and the primary to rent a feminine chief govt in Amy Trask.
The Raiders are set at beginning quarterback, having signed eight-year veteran Derek Carr to a three-year, $121.5 million extension in April.
In addition they have Jarrett Stidham, who they acquired this month in a cope with the Patriots, on the roster, in addition to Nick Mullens.
Regardless of Kaepernick's identify being the most well liked matter of dialog throughout Thursday's press convention, Raiders head coach Josh McDaniels kept away from detailing the crew's analysis of him in his solutions.
"We’ll solely speak about individuals on our crew," McDaniels informed the press.
"We’ve introduced in tons of individuals for exercises," he continued. "He’s not the primary participant or the final. The evaluations we make are non-public for us. If we decide so as to add somebody then we’ll do it."
Kaepernick, 34, was drafted by the 49ers within the second spherical of the 2011 draft. He performed in 69 video games in six seasons in San Francisco, together with 58 begins. He accomplished 59.8% of his passes for 12,271 yards, 72 touchdowns and 30 interceptions, and rushed for an additional 2,300 yards.
He led the 2012 crew to the Tremendous Bowl, the place the Niners fell one win in need of a championship, falling 34-31 to the Baltimore Ravens.
In an interview with the "I Am Athlete" podcast, Kaepernick famous that each of his former Niners coaches, Jim Harbaugh and Chip Kelly, mentioned he "made the locker room higher," contrasting a story that he could be a distraction for any crew that indicators him.
"That 2016 season, my final 12 months, my teammates voted me most brave and inspirational participant," he mentioned. "So, once you're speaking concerning the individuals which can be within the constructing, that has by no means come out that I have been a distraction. That is by no means come out that I have been a problem for the individuals I've performed with."
