The Cincinnati Bengals are promoting quarterback Brandon Allen from the practice squad now that Joe Burrow is done for the season. Burrow suffered a knee injury that is being described as a torn ACL and MCL as well as potentially some other structural issues, per ESPN.
Ryan Finley replaced Burrow in the starting lineup and looks like the team’s starter for the foreseeable future. Of course, free agency has its share of quarterbacks available. One of the most notable is one who has been a free agent the longest: Colin Kaepernick.
Kaepernick last played in the NFL in 2016 when he worked his way back from injury to re-claim his starting job with the San Francisco 49ers. The following offseason, the team told Kaepernick they were going to release him and so he opted out of his contract.
There have been some reports of a team or two reaching out, but none have brought him in for workouts as an apparent blackball of sorts has seemingly been in effect. He reached a settlement with the league on a collusion lawsuit, but has not had a workout in his four years as a free agent.
Kaepernick has been working out regularly since then, including a workout in Atlanta for media and teams a year ago. On Monday, Kaepernick posted more video and again stated he is working five days a week and still ready to play in the NFL. The Bengals are playing out the string and have their quarterback of the future in Burrow. It seems unlikely they make a play for Kaepernick, but if they think Finley and Allen are better for them, that’s certainly ... something.
1,363 days of being denied employment.
— Colin Kaepernick (@Kaepernick7) November 23, 2020
Still putting in work with @E_Reid35
Still going hard 5 days a week. #StillReady#StopRunning pic.twitter.com/iMeJ03IRuB