NFL players who protested during the national anthem in Week 3

ESPN ^ | 9/25/2016

[Altura Ct.]

Since 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick began a pregame protest of racial oppression and inequality in the United States by sitting down during the national anthem before a preseason game then kneeling during it in Week 1, several NFL players across the league have joined him. Here are the players who protested in Week 3:

Philadelphia Eagles: Safety Malcolm Jenkins and cornerback Ron Brooks each raised an arm above their heads during the national anthem prior to Sunday’s home game against the Steelers. Jenkins and Brooks made the same gesture prior to Monday’s game against the Bears. On that night, they were joined by teammates Marcus Smith and Steven Means in demonstration, but neither of those players showed any visible form of protest Sunday. -- Tim McManus

San Francisco 49ers: For the fourth week in a row, quarterback Colin Kaepernick and safety Eric Reid knelt during the national anthem. Linebacker Eli Harold, who previously had been raising a right fist, joined Kaepernick and Reid in taking a knee. Safety Antoine Bethea, safety Jaquiski Tartt and cornerback Rashard Robinson held up their right fists again and were joined by cornerback Keith Reaser and running back Mike Davis on Sunday in Seattle. -- Nick Wagoner

Indianapolis Colts: Cornerback Antonio Cromartie became the first Colts player to take a knee during the national anthem prior to Sunday’s game against the Chargers. While the rest of his teammates stood along the sideline, Cromartie was on a knee in the row behind them. -- Mike Wells

Broncos linebacker Brandon Marshall has been one of the NFL's most vocal players during the last month. AP Photo/Frank Victores San Diego Chargers: Chargers offensive linemen Joe Barksdale and Chris Hairston were joined by linebacker Joshua Perry and offensive linemen D.J. Fluker and King Dunlap in raising right fists in silent protest during the national anthem prior to Sunday's game in Indianapolis. -- Eric D. Williams

Seattle Seahawks: For the third straight game, the Seahawks linked arms together and stood as a demonstration of unity during the national anthem. -- Sheil Kapadia

Los Angeles Rams: Defensive end Robert Quinn raised his right fist in the air during the national anthem in Tampa Bay. This is the third week in a row in which he has done it. -- Alden Gonzalez

Jacksonville Jaguars: Four Jaguars players -- defensive end Dante Fowler Jr., defensive end Jared Odrick, linebacker Telvin Smith and linebacker Hayes Pullard -- raised their right hands during the national anthem before the game against Baltimore at EverBank Field. It was the first time any Jaguars player had done any kind of action during the national anthem. -- Mike DiRocco

Denver Broncos: Broncos linebacker Brandon Marshall kneeled for the national anthem in Cincinnati on Sunday. It is the third consecutive game Marshall has taken a knee during the anthem. He was a teammate of Kaepernick’s at the University of Nevada. Marshall also met with Denver Chief of Police Robert C. White earlier this month. Marshall has agreed to donate $300 for every tackle he makes this season to charitable programs in Denver. -- Jeff Legwold

Miami Dolphins: Wide receiver Kenny Stills, safety Michael Thomas and running back Arian Foster, who is inactive, kneeled for the anthem. Stills and Thomas shook hands and hugged immediately after standing. Foster said recently the main purpose of their demonstration is to create a healthy dialogue on systemic racial issues such as education, the prison system and police brutality toward minorities. In turn, Foster added, productive conversations could help lead to change. "It's just so easy to hate," he said. "If you're proclaiming to be a true American, freedom runs in our bloodlines, right? It's supposed to. If somebody is telling you they don't feel like they're free, why wouldn't you listen to them?" -- Pat McManamon

Tennessee Titans: Cornerback Jason McCourty, defensive tackle Jurrell Casey, linebacker Wesley Woodyard and defensive end DaQuan Jones raised a fist after the national anthem prior to the Titans' home game against the Raiders. McCourty and Casey have raised their fists in every regular-season game, but this is the first time Woodyard and Jones have done so. Last week, Casey explained what the gesture meant to him: "A small symbol showing we are looking for equal opportunity in this world, and we just need justice for all the things that’s going on around here." -- Paul Kuharsky

Carolina Panthers: Backup safety Marcus Ball stood with his right hand raised and index finger extended during the national anthem before the Panthers' matchup against the visiting Vikings. -- David Newton

Washington Redskins: Four Redskins players protested during the national anthem by raising their right fists before Sunday's game at the Giants. It’s the first time any Redskins players have joined in the growing protests during the anthem. The players who raised their right fist were receiver DeSean Jackson, corner Greg Toler, receiver Rashad Ross and tight end Niles Paul. Earlier in the week, Jackson had posted a message on his Instagram account that read in part, “Us as black people are a threat, so just take our lives smh. The system been set up for us not to live and make it thru all this [nonsense]. Another RIP to [Crutcher] but they say have faith & trust?? In what them to keep killing our [loved ones]?” -- John Keim

Oakland Raiders: Linebackers Bruce Irvin and Malcolm Smith raised their right fists during the national anthem at Tennessee. Both players spent time with the Seahawks, who organized a show of unity before the first game of the regular season when they locked arms during "The Star-Spangled Banner." During the preseason, Raiders coach Jack Del Rio said his organization respected Kaepernick’s right to protest but would remain standing for the anthem. “For us, I think it’s more about recognizing you’re part of an organization and you’re representing our organization and our organization believes you should pay respect to the flag,” Del Rio said at the time. “So save those individual decisions to express yourself for an individual forum. That’s how we feel, in talking with [Raiders owner] Mark Davis." -- Paul Gutierrez

Houston Texans: Texans left tackle Duane Brown raised his fist during the national anthem Thursday night at Gillette Stadium before the Texans faced the Patriots. Coach Bill O'Brien said he supports Brown, who was inactive for the game because of injury. "I understand that there is a lot going on in this country right now and that we all have strong opinions about it," he said. "Duane Brown expressed himself during the anthem, which is his right. It is his right of free speech. It’s his right to do what he did during the anthem last night. I support his individual right to do that." -

[nickedknack]

I quit watching the NFL, MLB, NBA, and NCAA FB.

[Lurkinanloomin]

Don’t care, I stopped watching the National Felon League

[KSCITYBOY]

Stop supporting ESPN and Sports where the players hate America

[norwaypinesavage]

Hey, give the guy a break. He spent too much time in practice pretending to be quarterback. He needed the time to practice his game job - sitting on a bench.

[Road Warrior ‘04]

I'm (kinda) with you. Boycotting the NFL for sure. Can't remember the last time I watched any part of an NBA game.

I might have watched my last NCAA FB game, after my Gators took it on the chin from Tennessee. (Just kidding on that one)

[OKSooner]

F them all. That means you too, Kenny Stills.

[pepsionice]

We need statistical coverage here. Is the guy a “kneeer”, a “fister” (fist in the air), a sitter (sits only), etc?

Then we can compare team to team and get an idea on team coverage....winning teams with high kneeer rates or losing teams with high sitter rates.

[Dr. Sivana]

Well, Quinn (Rams) is a fister on a perpetually 7-9 team, but he himself is a top player, and if they dropped him he’d find a home VERY quickly.

[EQAndyBuzz]

Got rid of my NFL package so I don’t really care.

[RayChuang88]

All those protests need to stop—they’re turning into “white noise” and nobody cares anymore.

[mass55th]

I root for the Steelers because my youngest son is a fan. I don’t usually watch the games though. Checked out the article to see if any Steelers acted stupidly, and was pleased to see that so far, they haven’t fallen in with the rest of the morons. Hopefully Mike Tomlin has read them the riot act.

[Flycatcher]

Coach Bill O'Brien said he supports Brown, who was inactive for the game because of injury. "I understand that there is a lot going on in this country right now and that we all have strong opinions about it," he said. "Duane Brown expressed himself during the anthem, which is his right. It is his right of free speech. It’s his right to do what he did during the anthem last night. I support his individual right to do that."

And this ignorant drivel is coming from the COACH!

For the future of America, we need more Ditkas, and NOT more candyass, appeasing Bill O'Briens.

[Jumper]

I have completely shut off the NFL now. If it continues and affects the Buckeyes, they will be next and the final straw. One-sided racial demonstrations is exactly what our Melting Pot is not about - the Black Community has removed itself from the American Experiment of coming together out of many into a single people(s). Put your racism and politics on display during my leisure time and I will take leisure activity elsewhere.

[clintonh8r]

I haven’t watched a single down so far this season. It’ll be easy to do my annual Pink October boycott now.

[C19fan]

Did not watch one iota of the NFL this Sunday. This might be the first time I have done this, except for times away from home, for 30 years.

[dp0622]

nobody in the Kansas City/Jets game knelt. Though I was wish they would have!! :)

Keep kneeling. It brings move votes to Trump

AND NOW THEY DONT SHOW THE ANTHEM!!!

I only know no one knelt at that game because of this article.

I watch one game a week. Used to watch 8, including repeats.

used to go to games.

Used to buy stuff.

ALL gone. Maybe 500 bucks save a season. Thanks guys for kneeling!! :)

BUT CAN WE BUILD A LIST OF THEIR SPONSORS?!?!

[CodeToad]

NFL: Negros, Felons, Liberals. No one else invited or desired to watch or own a team.

[Cboldt]

-- Did not watch one iota of the NFL this Sunday. This might be the first time I have done this, except for times away from home, for 30 years. --

Ditto. I don;t even check the scores the next day. NFL is dead to me. Dead dead dead.