Raiders head coach Josh McDaniels refuses to talk about Colin Kaepernick's workout

Colin Kaepernick’s return to the NFL could have some momentum, as the former San Francisco 49ers starter worked out for the Las Vegas Raiders earlier this week. Raiders head coach Josh McDaniels simply views Kaepernick’s workout as an opportunity to see if the team could make its roster better.

When asked about Kaepernick’s workout with the Raiders, McDaniels said that he would only talk about players currently on the roster.

“We will only talk about the people that are on our team,” McDaniels said, via Pro Football Talk’s Charean Williams. “Dave (Ziegler) and his staff have worked out tons of guys this spring. We really don’t make comments about the evaluations that we made or what they looked like, what they didn’t look like, strengths and weaknesses, those kinds of thing. They are obviously kind of private for us as we look at things to try to make decisions to make the team better. If players are added to the team, then obviously we’ll talk about them at that point.

“I respect the question 100 percent. I understand, but that’s kind of what we’ll stick to.”

Kaepernick started seven games for the 49ers in 2012, leading San Francisco to a 5-2 record. He became the team’s full-time starter in 2013 and 2014, leading the 49ers to a 12-4 record in 2013. He completed 58.4% of his passes for 3,197 yards, 21 touchdowns and five interceptions in 2013, and completed 60.5% of his passes for 3,369 yards, 19 touchdowns and four interceptions in 2014.

His most recent NFL action came in 2016, when he led the 49ers to a disappointing 1-10 record in 11 starts. Overall, Kaepernick has completed 59.8% of his career passes, tossing for 12,271 yards with 72 touchdowns and 30 interceptions. He has also contributed with his legs, rushing for 2,300 yards and 13 scores.

McDaniels on Kaepernick’s Raiders workout: ‘We’re encouraging the competition’

In addition to his workout with the Raiders, Kaepernick also recently threw at Michigan’s spring game. He is still vying to play in the NFL again, and he could be getting a chance depending on how the Raiders felt about his performance this week.

The Raiders have Derek Carr locked in as their starting quarterback, with Nick Mullens, Jarrett Stidham, and Chase Garbers also in the quarterback room. At the very least, Kaepernick could add some valuable depth as a second or third string option.

“We’re encouraging the competition right now,” said McDaniels. “I think our football understands that competition is the way for each player to improve.

“We brought in tons of people for workouts. If there’s an opportunity to improve the team, we said it from Day 1 that we would look at every opportunity. He’s not the first player that we’ve looked at and not the last one. There are going to be a lot of people who are going to come in and out of this building and have an opportunity to make an impression.”