San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick might be playing for a new team next season.
NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport reported Sunday that the 29-year-old quarterback will join the 2017 free agent class after the 2016 season.
Kaepernick had been playing better over the last few weeks following a bad start to the campaign. Entering Week 13, he had thrown a total of six touchdown passes and only one interception, along with an average of 50-plus rushing yards in the three previous games. However, he was benched Sunday in a 26-6 road loss to the Chicago Bears.
Kaepernick has completed just 55.3 percent of his passes for 1,440 yards with 10 touchdowns and three interceptions in eight games. He has only one 300-yard game, though, and the 49ers have won none of his starts.
Those stats aren’t horrible, but they aren’t great, either. Kaepernick is nowhere near the game-breaking player we saw just a few seasons ago when the 49ers went to three consecutive NFC Championship Games. He’s not good enough to be a starting quarterback on a team with winning aspirations.
Kaepernick’s recent Star-Spangled Banner protests also could deter teams from signing him.
Thumbnail photo via Joe Camporeale/USA TODAY Sports Images
