Ravens exploring Colin Kaepernick signing, John Harbaugh says

Joe Flacco's back ailment could give Colin Kaepernick an opportunity to land back in the NFL.

Baltimore Ravens coach John Harbaugh said Thursday that with his starting quarterback expected to miss at least a week of training camp with a disc issue, the team is exploring signing Kaepernick.

Harbaugh said he had been speaking throughout the summer with Kaepernick, who remains unsigned after a season in which he kneeled during the national anthem to protest police brutality and racial injustice. 

"I've known Colin through my brother for many years," Harbaugh said. "And we talked and then got to know him very well when he scrimmaged here. He and I have been talking throughout the summer a number of times. We had some great conversations on the phone and it's really been a pleasure to talk to him and get to know him. I like history and politics too, and we've had some debates, and it's been fun. And he's a great guy.

"He's a guy right now that's being talked about. We'll see what happens with that. Only speculation right now. He's a really good football player and like I said, I do believe he'll be playing in the National Football League this year."

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Baltimore offers multiple ties to Kaepernick's early successful years in the NFL. The former second-round pick first rose to fame in 2012 under Harbaugh's brother, Jim, by leading the San Francisco 49ers to Super Bowl XLVII, which the Ravens won. Greg Roman, who was Kaepernick's offensive coordinator with the 49ers from 2011-14, now serves as senior offensive assistant and tight ends coach for the Ravens.

Backup Ryan Mallett and Dustin Vaughan are currently the only two other quarterbacks besides Flacco on the Ravens' roster.

Follow Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz on Twitter @MikeMSchwartz.

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