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Bruce Arians on Colin Kaepernick: ‘He’s 32 with a bad shoulder’

The Bucs coach said he could see the former 49ers quarterback play again in the NFL in “the right system.” From his words, don’t expect it to be the Bucs.
FILE - In this Dec. 4, 2016, file photo, San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick warms up before an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears. Spike Lee said on Instagram Sunday, March 19, 2017, that it was "fishy" that Kaepernick, now a free agent, hadn't been signed." (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast, File) PAPM107 [AP]
FILE - In this Dec. 4, 2016, file photo, San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick warms up before an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears. Spike Lee said on Instagram Sunday, March 19, 2017, that it was "fishy" that Kaepernick, now a free agent, hadn't been signed." (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast, File) PAPM107 [AP]
By Eduardo A. Encina
Published Nov. 15
Updated Nov. 15

TAMPA — The Bucs will be one of the teams scouting quarterback Colin Kaepernick on Saturday in Atlanta, but if coach Bruce Arians words Friday were any indication, it’s unlikely he’s heading to Tampa Bay.

Asked Friday whether Arians could see Kaepernick play again in the NFL, he said it’s possible “in the right system.”

"Obviously, the system in Baltimore, Greg Roman was his coordinator," Arians said. "He was that style of player."

With Roman as offensive coordinator, the 49ers went to three straight NFC Championship games from 2011 to '13, the latter to playoff runs coming with Kaepernick at quarterback.

“He’s 32 now with a bad shoulder, so that’s a big difference than (Ravens quarterback) Lamar Jackson,” Arians said.

Kaepernick hasn’t played since 2016, unable to find a job after kneeling for the national anthem to protest social injustices made him a polarizing figure in the league.

Contact Eduardo A. Encina at eencina@tampabay.com. Follow @EddieInTheYard.

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