FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — Amid intense pressure to address their quarterback situation, the New York Jets have signed veteran free agent Trevor Siemian to their practice squad, the team announced. .
Siemian, 31, was cut by the Cincinnati Bengals in the preseason, joining Zach Wilson and Tim Boyle in the Jets’ quarterback room. Two days ago, Wilson struggled again but still received a vote of confidence from coach Robert Saleh.
Saleh said Wilson will start Sunday night against the Kansas City Chiefs, but Siemian gives the Jets a quarterback with starting experience — one that could be a problem if Wilson continues to struggle. Potential options.
Meanwhile, former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick penned a letter to Jets general manager Joe Douglas, dated September 12. Rapper J Cole said on the 21st that he asked the team to consider signing him to the training squad. The letter was shared on Cole’s Instagram account on Tuesday.
“I asked Colin @kaepernick7 if he could share this letter with the world,” Cole wrote. “He was very reluctant. My argument was that I believed people and all organizations should know the truth about how hard he worked and how much he still wanted to play. And always has. In the end, he agreed to let me play.”
Kaepernick, 35, worked out for NFL teams including the Las Vegas Raiders last year, but last played in an NFL game in 2016, the year he began protesting racial injustice during the national anthem. equality.
The Jets (1-2) were in trouble as Aaron Rodgers went down with a torn Achilles in his fourth game of the season. Wilson came off the bench to help the Jets beat the Buffalo Bills in overtime, but the offense has scored just three touchdowns in his last three games at quarterback.
Siemian has a career record of 13-17 with 42 touchdowns and 28 interceptions. Siemian was a full-time starter for the Broncos in 2016 and 2017 and has been relegated to backup since being waived by the Denver Nuggets.
He hasn’t won a starting job since 2017. He has since missed six consecutive starts, including one with the Jets in 2019. In the second week of the season, he replaced Sam Darnold, who was out due to mononucleosis, but lasted just one game. Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett was injured due to illness. An ankle injury ended the season.
Siemian started last season for the Chicago Bears against the Jets. He struggled in the 31-10 loss, completing 14 of 25 passes for 179 yards, one touchdown and one interception.
He lost the backup spot to Jake Browning with the Bengals this summer. Siemian got a lot of playing time in the preseason, but he completed 36 of 65 passes for 316 yards, no touchdowns and two interceptions.
The Jets have been linked to quarterbacks like Carson Wentz, Matt Ryan and Chad Henney since Rodgers’ injury. They expressed interest in Heine, who was playing under Jacksonville offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett, but Heine declined. The Jets reportedly rejected offers from Wentz and Ryan.