The Colin Kaepernick saga has continued to into August as training camps around the league have opened up while the quarterback remains a free agent. Speculation over Kap’s next landing spot seems to have zeroed in on one team in particular though, the Baltimore Ravens.
With Joe Flacco currently sidelined due to a back injury, Baltimore is expected to be in search of another potential QB for insurance alongside current backup Ryan Mallett. The Ravens signed David Olson, a quarterback from an indoor football league who was never a full-time starter at the position in college, several days ago. Olson was then waived and Josh Woodrum, a 2016 undrafted free agent from Liberty, was signed.
These moves drew the ire of many who think Kaepernick is being intentionally kept off of rosters around the league by owners and front offices that either don’t support his decision to kneel during the national anthem or are concerned of their fanbases’ reaction to his potential signing.
ESPN’s Dianna Russini seemed to confirm that assumption Wednesday morning, as she reported multiple owners around the league have gone out of their way to avoid signing Kaepernick.
Also to note this is not the first time an NFL team has wanted to add Kaepernick to its roster, but the move was blocked by the team's owner
— Dianna Russini (@diannaESPN) August 2, 2017
This came on the heels of Russini saying that Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti was one of those concerned about signing Kaepernick despite the desire of coach John Harbaugh and general manager Ozzie Newsome to do so. Harbaugh has spoken directly about Kaepernick during training camp, acknowledging that the team is considering him.
Ravens HC John Harbaugh & GM Ozzie Newsome support signing Colin Kaepernick, but have met resistance from owner Steve Bisciotti per sources
— Dianna Russini (@diannaESPN) August 2, 2017
Baltimore responded to Russini’s report shortly after, a sign that this issue is clearly at the forefront of the minds of Ravens front office members. Newsome refuted the fact that Bisciotti blocked any proposed signing of Kaepernick.
Statement on today’s report regarding Colin Kaepernick: pic.twitter.com/ubfpwVA35O
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) August 2, 2017
Bisciotti recently asked fans to “pray for us” in regards to the team’s deliberations over signing Kaepernick. Preseason games will kick off soon, and injuries will inevitably follow, so other roster spots could begin opening up for Kaepernick. But with each passing day that Kap isn’t on the team and Flacco recovers from his back problem, however, it appears less and less likely that the former 49er will become a Raven.