Tim McManus, ESPN Staff Writer 8y

Malcolm Jenkins praises Chip Kelly, talks about importance of white players joining protests

San Francisco 49ers coach Chip Kelly's public support of Colin Kaepernick has resonated with at least one of his former players.

Kelly recently defended Kaepernick during an exchange with a reporter who questioned whether the quarterback should be talking about social injustice in the locker room after a game. The San Francisco 49ers head coach backed him further when asked about Kaepernick's protests becoming a national story.

“I think it’s an issue — you look at what’s gone on in Tulsa and in Charlotte the last two nights — it’s an issue that’s at the forefront of our country,” Kelly said, via the San Francisco Chronicle. “And it needs to be addressed and be taken care of because what’s going on is not right. So I think, again, he’s shedding light on a situation that is heinous. And shouldn’t happen in this country. We all have inalienable rights as a citizen and this country and they’re being violated. And I think that’s what Colin is standing up for.”

Kelly had his share of detractors in the Eagles' locker room during his three-year run in Philadelphia. On more than one occasion, the issue of race was brought into the conversation when it came to Kelly's handling of the team.

Malcolm Jenkins, though, spoke well of his former head coach on Friday.

"I got a lot of respect for Chip, and I know how he is with his players," Jenkins said. "I appreciate him obviously having Kaepernick's back and then actually speaking on the fact that Kaepernick's message is legitimate and that [the injustice] needs to stop," Jenkins said. "Hopefully, coming from somebody like him, when you're a head coach in the National Football League and you're also a white man, to say that means volumes. So hopefully more people who actually feel that way who will speak up."

Along those lines, Jenkins was asked about Seattle Seahawks defensive end Michael Bennett's comments about the importance of a white player eventually joining in the demonstrations.

"I totally agree," Jenkins said. "I've kind of talked about that in the locker room. It's one thing for me to do it, but you're trying to draw empathy out of people and feel it. It's easy to write off somebody and say, 'OK, it's another black person that's complaining about the system,' and all of this, but all of a sudden you have a white person standing next to them and that can express that, 'This might not be something that I'm going through, but this is my teammate that I could easily see him in this situation. I see the Tulsa events -- that can be anybody in this locker room, that can be anybody's family in this locker room.' And so to have that I think speaks more than anything."

Asked if he gets the sense that any white Eagles players might join in the protests, Jenkins replied: "I don't know. I mean, it's been a conversation, but I don't know."

Jenkins and three other players -- cornerback Ron Brooks and defensive ends Steven Means and Marcus Smith -- raised one hand above their heads during the playing of the national anthem before Monday night's game against the Chicago Bears. Jenkins intends on continuing with the gesture for the remainder of the season. He is unsure whether more players will join in this week when the Eagles play host to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

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