Should the Indianapolis Colts pursue Colin Kaepernick?
By Luke Drage
The Indianapolis Colts find themselves in a tough situation at quarterback and might have to start considering a move to sign Colin Kaepernick.
With Andrew Luck’s status still very much unknown, the Indianapolis Colts are in a dire situation offensively. Luck hasn’t thrown at all in camp and is clearly in no position to play as yet.
In his absence, neither Scott Tolzien or Stephen Morris have performed at any kind of promising level through two preseason games. Both looking overwhelmed and under skilled at times.
On top of this, second year center Ryan Kelly is set to miss an extended period with a foot injury.
The injuries are beginning to pile up in Indy and what was set to be a promising year after a solid offseason, may now be doomed to be another struggle.
However, if the franchise can add a serviceable QB2 before the season starts, Luck’s now inevitable missed game time may not be so fatal.
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Step forward Colin Kaepernick?
Aside from the obvious media hype surrounding his off the field antics, Kaepernick is clearly the best free agent quarterback available. Unless Jim Irsay is willing to put in a call to the ‘99%’ retired Tony Romo.
The enigmatic signal caller has failed to land a job this offseason and whilst his political stances clearly put some teams off, a desperate team cannot ignore the fact that the former 9er put up efficient numbers in 2016.
Only 5 quarterbacks had a lower interception ratio than Kaepernick last year. The 29-year-old threw 16 td passes and only 4 picks despite going 1-10 as a starter.
Kaepernick has 12,271 yards and 72 career touchdown passes to just 30 picks. He also has 2,300 rushing yards and 13 td’s, proving his worth as a true dual threat quarterback.
It would be a PR risk bringing him in but he certainly gives the Colts a better chance to win than both Tolzien and Morris.
Will it happen?
Due to the uncertainty surrounding Luck, and the obvious desire to exercise caution with the franchise leader, it may serve Indy better to bring in a serviceable veteran like Kaepernick to play half a season than to roll with the relatively inexperienced and certainly less talented quarterback’s currently on the roster.
Additionally, Irsay’s well known quirky nature might just lead him to be the owner that okays the controversial signal caller’s return to the NFL.
This could work but should the Colts take this risk? Probably not. And, GM Chris Ballard is not likely to want to create such a fracas in his first year in charge.
Early season losses with the absence of Luck won’t cost Ballard or Chuck Pagano their jobs. But, it will write off another season of the former Stanford product’s prime with no Super Bowl win.