When Panthers quarterback Cam Newton limped off the field after being brutally sacked in the first quarter against the Patriots on Thursday, safety Eric Reid was quick to nominate Colin Kaepernick as a potential replacement.

Luckily for the Panthers, Newton reportedly has a mid-foot sprain and the team is “cautiously optimistic” he will be ready to start Week 1, but Reid suggested his former 49ers teammate could “come in and help us” as Newton left the locker room in a walking boot.

Reid assured that he hoped his teammate was OK and that Kaepernick would only be someone to consider if Newton had to miss significant time because of the injury.

In March of 2017, Kaepernick opted out of his 49ers contract and has yet to be picked up by another team since he began kneeling during the national anthem to protest racial injustice and police brutality in 2016. He filed a grievance with Reid against the NFL for blackballing him from the league and eventually reached an agreement with the league in February.

Kaepernick has made it known that he’s ready to jump back into the NFL if a team chooses to invest in him, posting a workout video to Twitter to show his current shape.

If Newton isn’t able to start in Week 1, Kyle Allen is listed as the next option on the Panthers’ depth chart.