The New York Giants are in a quarterback crisis after Jaxson Dart went down with a season-ending knee injury, but one name floated as a potential replacement has fans rolling their eyes harder than a bad Hail Mary.
ProFootballTalk's Mike Florio mused that the Giants might give Colin Kaepernick a workout, pointing to the fact that head coach John Harbaugh revealed earlier this month that he and the Ravens wanted to sign Kaepernick back in 2017. With New York scrambling for QB help, Florio suggested the G-Men could kick the tires on the former 49ers star.
But the internet quickly hit back. The reaction was swift and merciless, with fans and analysts alike questioning the logic of bringing in a quarterback who hasn't taken an NFL snap in a decade.
“Come on man …” former NFL lineman Geoff Schwartz replied. Marcus Mosher of The 33rd Team posted, “Kaepernick turns 39 this season and hasn’t played in 10 years. What????” Outspoken commentator Clay Travis didn't hold back: “So many sports media have broken brains. Kaepernick hasn’t PLAYED FOOTBALL IN A DECADE, you moron.”
The mockery didn't stop there. “We’re still doing this, huh?” one user asked. Another fan joked, “i’ve died and ended up in hell.” A third added, “There’s no way you need the clicks this badly.”
Kaepernick, who hasn't played since 2016 after kneeling during the national anthem to protest police brutality, has repeatedly said he stays in shape and remains open to a return. But even with Harbaugh and his former offensive coordinator now in New York, the idea of a 39-year-old Kaepernick stepping in seems far-fetched to most.
This isn't the first time the Giants have been linked to a veteran QB in a pinch. The team has also been urged to consider J.J. McCarthy as a trade target, though that seems equally unlikely. Meanwhile, the handling of Dart's injury has drawn criticism from analysts like Dan Orlovsky, who blasted the team for how they managed the situation.
For now, the Giants will likely turn to their existing backups or explore other options. But as the fan reactions make clear, Kaepernick's name is more of a punchline than a solution at this point.
