Siemian adds depth for Jets
The Jets signed veteran quarterback Trevor Siemian to the practice squad after the 31-year-old passed a physical Tuesday, giving New York an experienced backup for embattled starter Zach Wilson.
Wilson has struggled since taking over for Aaron Rodgers, who tore his left Achilles’ tendon four snaps into his debut with New York. The 24-year-old has two touchdown passes and four picks with a 52.4 percent completion rate and is averaging 5.6 yards per pass.
Several names had been mentioned as potential pickups for the Jets. Former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick wrote a letter to New York general manager Joe Douglas asking the team to consider signing him to the practice squad.
The letter, dated Thursday, was released on social media by rapper J. Cole. A person close to Kaepernick, speaking on condition of anonymity because it’s a private matter, confirmed to the AP the legitimacy of the letter. It was not immediately known, however, if Douglas or someone in the Jets organization actually received or saw the letter.
“I would be honored and extremely grateful for the opportunity to come in and lead the practice squad,” Kaepernick wrote. “I would do this with the sole mission of getting your defense ready each week.”
Kaepernick last played in the NFL with the 49ers on Jan. 1, 2017, after he began kneeling on the sideline at games during the national anthem to protest social injustice and police brutality. The 35-year-old said in the letter he has been working out five days a week during the last six years and remains confident in his abilities.
After the Jets’ 15-10 loss to the Patriots dropped them to 1-2, coach Robert Saleh insisted the team was sticking with Wilson because “right now, he’s who gives us the best chance to win.”
That didn’t sit well with fans — including Pro Football Hall of Famer Joe Namath, who said during an interview on “The Michael Kay Show” on 98.7 ESPN New York on Monday that “I’ve seen enough of Zach Wilson.”
During his weekly appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show” on Tuesday, Rodgers said the Jets “need to hold our poise,” referring to some sideline blowups between a few players and coaches during the Patriots game.
He said the offense needs to “grow up a little bit” and also implored fans to not lose faith in the team this early in the season.
Rodgers also appeared to make an indirect reference to Namath’s comments, among others.
“When we’re not having success, how do we respond?” Rodgers said. “How do we respond to adversity? That goes for our fan base and former players as well. You’re not helping the cause.”
This will be Siemian’s second stint with the Jets after he was with them in 2019. The 31-year-old made one start for New York when Sam Darnold was sidelined with mononucleosis, but he suffered a season-ending ankle injury early in the Week 2 Monday night game against the Browns.
Kelce’s jersey sales swift to soar
Taylor Swift’s trip to watch the Chiefs’ Travis Kelce play football on Sunday didn’t just have the internet talking nonstop. Following the 12-time Grammy Award winner’s appearance at Arrowhead Stadium, jersey sales for the All-Pro tight end skyrocketed.
According to sportswear and fan merchandise company Fanatics, his No. 87 was one of the top five sellers among NFL players Sunday. Kelce “saw a nearly 400% spike in sales throughout the Fanatics network of sites, including NFLShop.com,” a spokesperson e-mailed the Associated Press.
Kelce did not speak to reporters afterward, but he was spotted leaving Arrowhead with Swift by his side.
Still, just about everyone in the Kansas City locker room was buzzing about the news after Sunday’s game, including coach Andy Reid, who joked that “I set them up.”
Williams death under investigation
Police are investigating the death of former NFL wide receiver Mike Williams in Tampa after getting information that he may have received unprescribed drugs from someone while hospitalized after a construction site accident. The 36-year-old Buccaneers draft pick played four seasons before being traded to his hometown Bills in 2014. He played nine games, finishing with eight catches for 142 yards and one TD in his lone season with Buffalo . . . The Falcons lost a starter from the middle of their defense for at least four weeks when they placed Troy Andersen on injured reserve with a shoulder injury. The linebacker suffered the injury in Sunday’s 20-6 loss at Detroit. Coach Arthur Smith on Monday said “it’s certainly possible” Andersen will miss the remainder of the season. Nate Landman is expected to move into Andersen’s inside linebacker spot in Sunday’s game against the Jaguars in London. The undrafted free agent out of Colorado has not appeared in an NFL game.