Wide receiver Jeremy Kerley is currently with the New York Jets. He spent last season and the 2017 offseason with the San Francisco 49ers, who released Kerley prior to the start of the regular season. The wide receiver doesn't appear to have any hard feelings about the decision or his former team.
During an Instagram chat this week, Kerley was quick to defend his former team. He praised the 49ers and head coach Kyle Shanahan in response to a fan who criticized the team.
"The Niners don't suck," Kerley said. "They're going to get their stuff together, bro. It's always like, you gotta have the structure for a little bit before you bounce back and you're great. They're good, they've just got -- [expletive], they just got to develop as a team for a little bit. They'll be alright. The 49ers, I'm telling you right now, Kyle Shanahan, that might be one of the smartest [expletive] coaches I've ever played with."
Video of Kerley discussing the 49ers was shared on Reddit.
Kerley appeared in three of the 49ers' four preseason games before being released and then signed by the Jets. He became expendable due to the emergence of young wide receiver talent like fifth-round draft pick Trent Taylor.
Kerley joined the 49ers via a trade with the Detroit Lions in late August of 2016. He ended up leading the 49ers in receiving last season with 64 catches for 667 yards and three touchdowns, which led to a new three-year contract in March.
This season is Kerley's second stint with the Jets, who drafted him out of TCU in the fifth round of the 2011 NFL Draft. The Jets released Kerley in March of 2016 and he signed on with Detroit before being traded to the 49ers. He signed a one-year deal to return to the Jets on September 5, which was just three days after his release from the 49ers.