Kaepernick on trial with Las Vegas Raiders: First Chance in the NFL Club since 2017 | right Now

Colin Kaepernick got a chance to appear on the NFL team for the first time in over five years. The 34-year-old quarterback, who has been without a club since 2017 after becoming the first American football player to kneel during the national anthem, is on trial with the Las Vegas Raiders on Wednesday, US media reported.

NFL teams regularly hold so-called “drills” for players, especially in the off-season. Such test training doesn’t always lead to a contract, but for Kaepernick, it’s the most realistic step toward a comeback since his last NFL game on January 1, 2017.

The American played for the San Francisco 49ers between 2011 and 2017 and led that club to the Super Bowl in 2013 (31-34 losses against the Baltimore Ravens). Three years later, Kaepernick decided to kneel in front of NFL games during the United States national anthem, in protest of police brutality against blacks.

This move made Kaepernick a controversial figure among some NFL fans. 49 players parted ways with the quarterback in early 2017 and no team has given him another chance since then.

Kaepernick found that NFL club owners were plotting against him and filed a lawsuit. The two parties reached a settlement in 2019, but that did not lead to an opportunity for a return.

Colin Kaepernick (centre) also kneeled before his last NFL game, on January 1, 2017.

Kaepernick is good to start as a reserve

In recent months, Kaepernick has often been seen in public on a football field. In early April, he went down in front of the NFL team scouts during the first half of a University of Michigan game. He then traveled across the United States to train with NFL players in multiple cities.

In a rare interview on the podcast last month I’m athleticKaepernick confirmed that he still hopes to return and that he wouldn’t mind starting as a reserve player. “If I’m not good enough,” he said, “you can tell me goodbye again.” “But come on, give me a chance to show what I can do.”

It looks like the Las Vegas Raiders are giving Kaepernick that chance. Raiders owner Mark Davis said last month that he believes Kaepernick deserves a comeback. “If our coach and manager want to bring him in, I welcome Colin with open arms.”

Derek Carr was the quarterback for the Las Vegas Raiders for eight years. The 31-year-old American signed a new and highly lucrative contract last month until 2025. With Nick Mullins, Garrett Stidham and Chase Garbers, the Raiders have three lesser-known midfielders on contract. An NFL team usually has two or three quarterbacks on its roster during the season.

The new NFL season begins on September 9th.

For app users, click on the tweet to see Colin Kaepernick’s latest workout video.