Colin Kaepernick to make comeback in NFL

Colin Kaepernick, who hasn’t played in the NFL since New Year’s Day 2017, has taken the first step toward a comeback. According to ESPN and CBS Sports NFL Insider Josina Anderson, he is trying out for the Las Vegas Raiders on Wednesday.

According to The MMQB, the workout will be held at the team facilities, with head coach Josh McDaniels and general manager Dave Ziegler anticipated to attend.

Since the end of the 2016 season, the 34-year-old hasn’t worked out for or visited with any team. Due to on-field protests of police brutality, the social justice advocate sparked national controversy, which is widely considered to have ruined his career. Things, though, maybe about to change.

In 69 career games with the San Francisco 49ers, Kaepernick went 28-30 as a starter, throwing 72 touchdowns and 30 interceptions.

He led the 49ers to a Super Bowl XLVII participation at the end of the 2012 season and went 12-4 in 2013, but San Francisco struggled in his final three seasons there, dropping 1-10 in his starts in 2016.

Nonetheless, some of his career numbers are excellent. Only 1.77 percent of Kaepernick’s attempts have been intercepted, which ranks him seventh in NFL history among players who have attempted at least 1,500 passes.

In a playoff win over the Green Bay Packers in 2013, he sprinted for 181 yards, which is remains the most ever by a quarterback in a playoffs game.

This offseason, Kaepernick has been busy showing to the football world that he still has some tread left on his tyres, and he’s expressed interest in being a backup quarterback.

He was most recently an honorary captain at the University of Michigan’s spring game, when he had a public throwing session during “halftime” that was televised on television. Kap also worked out with Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Tyler Lockett and contacted head coach Pete Carroll to see if the team was interested in bringing him in.

When asked what he planned to achieve with the open workout at Michigan, Kaepernick simply stated that he was searching for an opportunity.

“A shot,” Kaepernick responded. “Just a chance, an opportunity. You know, a lot of what we’ve heard is, ‘Oh you haven’t played in five years, can you still play?’ Well, I had to come out, it’s part of the reason we’ve been doing all of the workouts publicly, releasing them publicly.

“(I’m) grateful that this is an opportunity that can lead to a next step and hopefully crack that door open so I can run through it.”

The Raiders aren’t one of the NFL’s most quarterback-dependent teams.

In addition to signing Nick Mullens, trading for Jarrett Stidham, and signing Chase Garbers as an undrafted free agent, the Raiders also signed Nick Mullens, dealt for Jarrett Stidham, and picked up Cal’s Chase Garbers as an undrafted free agent this summer.

Regardless, the Raiders appear to be interested in bringing in a veteran. Although a workout does not ensure that the Raiders will sign Kaepernick, it is a significant step forward in his quest to return to the NFL.