Elway might need a QB, but it won’t be Kaepernick
John Elway might find himself in the market for a backup quarterback soon, but there’s one man who won’t be getting a call: Colin Kaepernick.
“Colin had his chance to be here,” Elway said Thursday when asked if the former 49ers quarterback would be an option if Elway decides Case Keenum’s backup isn’t already on Denver’s roster.
“We offered him a contract. He didn’t take it,” Elway said. “And as I said at my deposition (in Kaepernick’s collusion lawsuit against the NFL) — and I don’t know if I’m legally able to say this — but he’s had his chance to be here. He passed.”
Kaepernick declined to take a pay cut from his $11.9 million salary to facilitate a trade to the Broncos in 2016 following Peyton Manning’s retirement.
Unable to get a discount from Kaepernick or a rebate from the 49ers, Elway moved up in the draft to select Memphis quarterback Paxton Lynch in the first round.
Lynch has been a flop and this week was demoted to third string behind Chad Kelly, who missed his rookie season last year while recovering from knee and wrist surgeries.
Lynch was beaten out in 2016 and ’17 by seventh-round pick Trevor Siemian, who was traded to Minnesota in the offseason following Keenum’s free-agent signing. Elway declared the backup job up for grabs between Lynch and Kelly.
Lynch was demoted after failing to read defenses correctly and throwing for just 24 yards in seven series in Denver’s preseason opener against the Vikings.
Thursday’s games
Washington 15, Jets 13: Sam Darnold threw an interception and showed some of the growing pains of a rookie quarterback for visiting New York, which lost on a last-second field goal. Darnold was 8-for-11 passing for 62 yards but took two sacks and had a couple of throws batted out of the air, including the pass that was picked off. Patriots 37, Eagles 20: In Foxborough, Mass., Tom Brady moved New England with ease in a Super Bowl rematch against Philadelphia. Philadelphia quarterback Nick Foles, the Super Bowl MVP, left in the second quarter with a shoulder injury after a strip-sack that led to a touchdown by Ja’Whaun Bentley, New England’s fifth-round draft choice. Packers 51, Steelers 34: Aaron Rodgers needed just one drive to look at home in his first action at Lambeau Field in almost a year. He connected with tight end Jimmy Graham for an 8-yard score, and Tramon Williams had a 25-yard interception return for a score on the first play from scrimmage as Green Bay won at home.