newsweek
The New York Giants are reeling after losing starting quarterback Jaxson Dart to a knee injury in Week 2 that could end his season. While veteran Jameis Winston is expected to take over as the starter for now, speculation has already turned to other potential options, including 23-year-old Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy, a former No. 10 overall pick.
On Wednesday, Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio proposed a surprising theory: that Giants head coach John Harbaugh might pursue a quarterback 15 years older than both Dart and McCarthy—Colin Kaepernick, who hasn't taken an NFL snap in nearly a decade. Florio noted that Kaepernick's book tour has brought him back into the spotlight, and recalled that Harbaugh told The Athletic's Ian O'Connor he wanted to add Kaepernick to the Ravens in 2017.
"Through it all, Kaepernick got one workout, five years ago with the Raiders," Florio wrote. "With the Giants now desperate for quarterback help (and with Jake Haener and Brandon Allen as the most viable options behind new starter Jameis Winston), why not bring Kaepernick in for a look?" Florio added that the 38-year-old Kaepernick "continues to say that he's staying in shape, and that he wants to play," and cited connections between Kaepernick and the Giants' coaching staff, including New York senior offensive assistant Greg Roman.
Roman, 54, served as the San Francisco 49ers' offensive coordinator during Kaepernick's first four seasons from 2011 to 2014. "It starts with a workout (and quite possibly ends with one). There's no reason not to give it a whirl. The anthem controversy has subsided. (Harbaugh and the Giants surely would want assurances that Kaepernick wouldn't dust it off, if he ended up on the sideline before games)" Florio said. "It would be different if John Harbaugh hadn't recently spoken in such glowing terms about Kaepernick. With not many viable options available in free agency—and with Harbaugh having considerable power in New York—let's see if Harbaugh puts his recent words into current action."
Kaepernick spent his entire six-year career with the 49ers from 2011 to 2016, including his first four seasons under John Harbaugh's younger brother, Jim. Kaepernick and Jim Harbaugh led San Francisco to Super Bowl XLVII, where they lost to John Harbaugh's Baltimore Ravens, and to an NFC Championship Game the following season. Kaepernick's last NFL game came in Week 17 of the 2016 season, when his 49ers lost to the Seattle Seahawks 25-23 on New Year's Day 2017.
Key Analysis
The Giants' quarterback situation is dire, with Dart's injury leaving Winston as the primary option and little depth behind him. While Kaepernick's name may seem like a long shot, his history with Harbaugh and Roman makes the idea less far-fetched. However, Kaepernick hasn't played since 2016, and any return would likely begin with a workout. The Giants must weigh whether his potential upside outweighs the risk of rust and distraction.
Originally reported by newsweek.