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Colin Kaepernick breaks down his performance at Michigan spring game

On3 imageby:Simon Gibbs04/02/22

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Carmen Mandato/Getty Images.

Quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who’s attempting an NFL comeback, said he felt “good” after throwing and participating in drills at halftime of Michigan‘s spring game — and his arm looked good, too.

“First time back in the cold like this in a while,” Kaepernick said with a smile to the Big Ten Network sideline reporter. “But it feels great to be out here. Moved at a fast pace to fit everything in or try to fit everything in. It was great to be able to get out here and work with the receivers.”

Kaepernick last appeared in the NFL as a member of the San Francisco 49ers, then coached by Jim Harbaugh. Harbaugh, now the head coach at Michigan, brought his former quarterback to campus, named him the honorary captain for Saturday’s Maize and Blue Game and invited him to throw in front of a live audience at halftime.

“Some of them (the receivers), it’s our first time running together or we got a prep day yesterday,” Kaepernick said. “Overall, felt great. Excited to be out here.”

Kaepernick started with short throws, then medium throws and finally progressed to deep throws down the middle. Using seven free-agent and former receivers, Kaepernick displayed good velocity and accuracy, and timing was seamless, despite having just met many of the wide receivers.

When asked what his hopes were for Saturday’s tryout, Kaepernick’s answer was simple: “a shot.

“Just a chance, an opportunity,” Kapernick said. “A lot of what we’ve heard is, ‘Oh, you haven’t played in five years. Can you still play?’ I wanted to come out. That’s part of the reason why we’ve been doing all the workouts publicly, releasing them publicly. Coach Harbaugh, Michigan, the Wolverines against Racism allowed this to happen today, so I’m grateful that this is an opportunity that can lead to that next step, and hopefully crack that door open so I can run through it.”