The Houston Texans have had internal discussions about signing embattled free agent quarterback Colin Kaepernick to replace injured signal caller Deshaun Watson.
Texans coach Bill O’Brien told reporters on Monday that he has talked with general manager Rick Smith about the possibility of signing Kaepernick, who is currently suing the NFL, arguing that the 32 owners colluded to keep him out of the league.
‘Colin Kaepernick is a good football player, hasn’t played in a while,’ O’Brien said, according to The Houston Chronicle. ‘These things are going to continue to be discussed.’
Kaepernick began protesting inequality and police violence against minorities last season by sitting and kneeling during the national anthem. And although he is currently a free agent, the NFL remains engulfed in controversy as other players have continued the demonstrations this season.
Watson tore an ACL during a non-contact drill at practice last week and is out for the year.
(Left) Houston Texans rookie quarterback Deshaun Watson is out for the season after tearing his ACL, but former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick (right) is available
On Monday, Texans coach Bill O’Brien (right) admitted to having discussions with general manager Rick Smith about possibly signing Kaepernick, who has not played since last season
O’Brien did not say the Texans have reached out to Kaepernick’s agent and seemed far from committed to signing the former San Francisco 49ers quarterback.
‘We talk about the roster and what’s out there every day, Rick I,’ O’Brien said, adding, ‘I like the guys that we have and we’ll continue to try to coach them.’
The Texans were 3-4 with Watson at the helm as the first-round pick out of Clemson posted an impressive 103.0 quarterback rating.
On Sunday, Watson’s replacement Tom Savage struggled, completing just 19 of 44 passes for 219 yards and a touchdown in Sunday’s loss to Indianapolis.
The Texans also have quarterbacks Matt McGloin, who was signed after the Watson injury, and veteran T.J. Yates.
Kaepernick has been a free agent since March.
The protests have caught on around the league as hundreds of players have sat, taken a knee, or raised a fist during the anthem. On Sunday, 18 players around the league protested in some way.
Recently Kaepernick’s attorney Mark Geragos predicted his client’s imminent return to the NFL.
Free agent Colin Kaepernick has a career quarterback rating of 88.9 in 69 career games while Texans backup Tom Savage has a career mark of 71.7 in just eight career appearances
‘I think within the next 10 days somebody will sign him,’ Garagos told the Adam Carolla podcast. ‘I think somebody’s gonna sign him. I think the NFL has to come to their senses, and realize every day that goes by just proves the collusion case even more.’
According to the lawsuit, ‘[The owners] have colluded to deprive Mr. Kaepernick of employment rights in retaliation for Mr. Kaepernick’s leadership and advocacy for equality and social justice and his bringing awareness to peculiar institutions still undermining racial equality in the United States.’
Kaepernick previously led the 49ers to three NFC Championship Games and one Super Bowl.
Watson’s replacement, backup quarterback Tom Savage (No. 3) completed just 19 of 44 passes for 219 yards and a touchdown in Sunday’s loss to the Indianapolis Colts
Both New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady and Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers previously said they believe Kaepernick deserves to be on an NFL roster, with Rodgers going so far as to tell ESPN he thinks the Wisconsin native is being blackballed.
‘I think he should be on a roster right now,’ Rodgers said. ‘I think because of his protests, he’s not.’
As for Watson, even while playing only half a season, the first-round pick is still a candidate for Offensive Rookie of the Year. Watson tossed for 1,699 yards and 19 touchdowns on the season while giving up only eight interceptions. He even threw for 402 yards and added another 67 on the ground in the team’s 41-38 loss to the Seattle Seahawks on October 29.
Kaepernick has a career quarterback rating of 88.9 in 69 career appearances while Savage has a career mark of 71.7 in just eight career appearances.
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell will be deposed as part of Kaepernick’s lawsuit, it has been revealed.
Goodell, several owners and at least two NFL executives will have to turn over cellphone records and emails in relation to the case, a legal insider told ESPN.
NFL owners who will be deposed include Jerry Jones of the Dallas Cowboys, New England’s Robert Kraft, Bob McNair of the Houston Texans, Seattle’s Paul Allen and San Francisco’s Jed York.
The owners were selected based on their public statements about Kaepernick or players protesting during the pre-game national anthem.
McNair recently caused controversy for saying the NFL ‘can’t have inmates running the prison’ when discussing his frustration with the way the recent kneeling protests had affected the NFL’s business
Jones said that he was aware of the case through news reports but had not been officially contacted by Kaepernick’s legal team.
Along with Goodell, league executives who will be disposed include executive vice president/football operations Troy Vincent and senior vice president of player engagement Arthur McAfee, the insider told ESPN.
An Offensive Rookie of the Year candidate, Watson tossed for 1,699 yards and 19 touchdowns on the season while giving up only eight interceptions. He even threw for 402 yards and added another 67 on the ground in the team’s 41-38 loss to the Seattle Seahawks on October 29