Report: Colin Kaepernick's agent contacts Jets following Aaron Rodgers injury

The 35-year-old Kaepernick hasn't played in an NFL game since Week 17 of the 2016 campaign, when his San Francisco 49ers fell to the Seattle Seahawks 25-23 on New Year's Day 2017. The former second-round pick took over as the Niners starting signal-caller midway through the 2012 season and led the team to Super Bowl XLVII, where the 49ers lost to the Baltimore Ravens.

After playing 75 games (including six playoff contests) over six years, the University of Nevada product went unsigned through the summer heading into the 2017 campaign amid allegations that he was being blackballed due to his on-field political statements, most notably kneeling during the national anthem to protest police brutality and racial inequality. Kaepernick filed a grievance against the league during the fall of 2017, accusing league owners of colluding to keep him out of the NFL, but later withdrew the grievance in February 2019 after reaching a confidential settlement with the league.

Since then, he has had visits and/or workouts with a handful of NFL teams — including the Las Vegas Raiders in May 2022 — but hasn't landed a deal.

For now, the Jets will roll with 24-year-old backup Zach Wilson.

The former BYU Cougar has been a colossal bust since New York selected him second overall in the 2021 NFL Draft.

In 23 career games, Wilson has recorded a 55.6% completion percentage and 71.2 quarterback rating for 4,162 passing yards, 16 touchdown passes and 19 interceptions. He came on in relief of Rodgers during the first quarter of the team's Week 1 "Monday Night Football" overtime victory against the Buffalo Bills, finishing 14-for-21 for 140 passing yards, one touchdown and one interception while adding four rushing attempts for six yards.