Skip to main content
U.S.

Colin Kaepernick eyes possible return to NFL with Raiders workout


Former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick has taken a major step toward a possible return to the gridiron. Kaepernick took part in a workout with the Las Vegas Raiders this week, his first official league activity since 2016, according to the Associated Press.

Kaepernick created controversy by kneeling during the playing of the national anthem in protest of police brutality and racial injustice in the United States. In the following years, he claimed he had been blacklisted from the NFL.

He and fellow player Eric Reid filed a grievance against the league in 2017 for allegedly colluding to keep them off the field. Though they later reached a settlement deal with the NFL, the numbers remain confidential.

Kaepernick’s protest garnered national attention and led to multi-million dollar deals with major brands like Nike.

This could be his last chance to prove he has the skills to be an NFL quarterback, and the Raiders organization, which is no stranger to controversy, could be a perfect fit.

“I believe in Colin Kaepernick and he deserves every chance in the world to become a quarterback in the National Football League,” Raiders owner Mark Davis said last month during an interview with NBC Sports Bay Area. “I still stand by it. If our coaches and general manager want to bring him in or want him to be the quarterback on this team, I would welcome him with open arms.”

First year coach Josh McDaniels may be looking to shake things up in Sin City. But, even if things work out, it will take a lot to get him on the field as the Raiders have a top-10 quarterback in Derek Carr who is under contract through the 2025 season.

Mahmoud Bennett: Colin Kaepernick is taking a major step toward a possible NFL return.

He just completed a workout with the Las Vegas Raiders – according to a source who spoke to ESPN.

That’s a big deal because it would be his first workout with an NFL team since 2016. If you remember that’s when he started kneeling during the national anthem.

Kapernick says he did it peacefully in protest of police brutality and racial injustice –

It gained massive attention.

And even more backlash.

Kaepernick was effectively exiled from the league and claims he was blackballed for years.

He filed a grievance with the NFL in 2017 over lack of opportunity which settled in 2019 – and although he scored big on multimillion dollar Nike deals he never made it back to the league.

Now this first year coach is taking a closer look – And the owner of the Las Vegas Raiders says:

Mark Davis: “I believe in Colin Kaepernick…. I still stand by it…I would welcome him with open arms”