Jaguars owner 'absolutely' open to signing Kaepernick

Jacksonville Jaguars owner Shahid Khan isn't afraid to say it. With his team's quarterback situation unresolved heading into the 2017 campaign, the eccentric billionaire let it be known that he'd have no issue signing free-agent quarterback and divisive figure Colin Kaepernick.

The Jaguars' projected starting quarterback, Blake Bortles, played behind veteran Chad Henne during the team's third preseason game on Thursday, leading Mike Dempsey of 1010XL to ask Khan if he'd consider adding Kaepernick if that's what "the football people" want.

"Absolutely," Khan said, according to Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk.

It's the first such statement by an NFL owner with regards to the idea of adding Kaepernick to their team. In July, Baltimore Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti said he was "monitoring" the situation and asked fans to "pray for us" as he mulled a decision. The Ravens instead signed quarterbacks David Olson and Thad Lewis.

Kaepernick, 29, has remained unsigned since opting out of his contract with the San Francisco 49ers at the close of the 2016 campaign. He chose to sit or kneel during the playing of the national anthem last season as a form of protest against social inequality in America, but has reportedly decided to stand for the anthem going forward.