Colin Kaepernick, whose protests through the nationwide anthem in 2016 sparked demonstrations for racial justice, is ready on making a comeback to the NFL.
The previous NFL quarterback participated in a exercise with the Las Vegas Raiders on Wednesday, ESPN reported.
It marked the activist’s first exercise with an NFL group in roughly 5 years, in response to the positioning, and his first since settling a 2019 lawsuit for an undisclosed quantity over claims he was blacklisted by league house owners.
The exercise comes lower than a month after Raiders proprietor Mark Davis, in an interview with NBC Sports activities, mentioned Kaepernick deserved a shot on the league once more.
Again in March, Kaepernick expressed curiosity in a exercise by way of his Twitter account.
He then mentioned during an episode of the “I Am Athlete” podcast in April that he needed to seek out his approach again to an NFL group.
Kaepernick pointed to an NFL that appears completely different from when he final suited up in a league uniform.
“You may have ‘Finish Racism’ behind your finish zone. You may have ‘Black Lives Matter’ in your helmet. Every part I’ve mentioned must be in alignment with what you’re saying publicly,” Kaepernick mentioned.
“It’s a $16 billion enterprise. After I first took a knee, my jersey went to No. 1. After I did the take care of Nike, their worth elevated by $6 billion. Six billion. With a ‘b.’ … So in the event you’re speaking in regards to the enterprise aspect, it reveals [it’s] helpful. In the event you’re speaking in regards to the taking part in aspect, are available in, let me compete.”
Kaepernick, who appeared within the 2013 Tremendous Bowl, performed six seasons for the San Francisco 49ers.
His protests, a response to police brutality and racial injustice, triggered nationwide debate together with criticism from then-President Donald Trump in 2017.
If the Raiders signal him, Kaepernick would be part of a roster of 4 quarterbacks and reunite with the group’s offensive coordinator Mick Lombardi, a former assistant for the 49ers through the quarterback’s profession there.
