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9 photos of the 18 NFL players who protested during the national anthem


The 49ers game against the Rams was the last game of Week 1, so Colin Kaepernick was one of the final players to take a stand by kneeling during the national anthem. It was fitting that the quarterback capped off the week's demonstrations, seeing as he was the one who launched the largest social justice protest the NFL has ever seen.

But he was far from alone. Seventeen other players across the league joined him by kneeling or raising their fists during the playing of the national anthem before their games to draw attention to police brutality against minorities and spur conversations about social justice. The Seahawks' Jeremy Lane opted to sit during the preseason, but joined in his team's demonstration of locking arms on Sunday instead.

Here are a few striking photos that captured the moments.

1. Colin Kaepernick and Eric Reid, 49ers

2. Kenny Britt and Robert Quinn, Rams

3. Antoine Bethea and Eli Harold, 49ers

4. Brandon Marshall, Broncos

5. Jelani Jenkins, Arian Foster, Michael Thomas, and Kenny Stills, Dolphins

6. Jurrell Casey, Jason McCourty, Wesley Woodyard, Titans

7. Martellus Bennet and Devin McCourty, Patriots

8. Marcus Peters, Chiefs

9. Jeremy Lane, Seahawks