COSTA MESA, Calif. -- Inspired by his trip to the East Coast to meet with NFL owners on Tuesday, Los Angeles Chargers left tackle Russell Okung believes the league will make the most out of this chance to address social injustice in the United States.

"Yesterday's meeting was really about dialogue and communication," Okung said. "I think the NFL has an amazing opportunity to lead very well into some territory that we've never actually been before. And I think if we do this the right way, and if the fellas are willing to open up in the right way -- or at least have the conversations that need to be had -- we can take this momentum and do something that can be a catalyst for our communities moving forward."

Okung took a red-eye flight to New York to be one of 12 active NFL players from eight teams who met with commissioner Roger Goodell and 11 team owners to discuss topics regarding player protests during the national anthem.

NFL players and owners scheduled a follow-up meeting for Oct. 31 to continue discussions about how the league and players can work together to support causes and issues of importance to the players.

The meeting will also likely take place at league headquarters in New York. The expectation is that such meetings will continue for the foreseeable future.

Okung penned a letter to other NFL players on The Players' Tribune, published last Friday, with the goal of conquering "uncharted territory" by opening a line of communication and responding with "one voice" as players.

"It's important that we sort of came to a consensus as players in terms of unity," the 30-year-old said. "We had a strong showing of unity and solidarity in approaching the owners, and the dialogue we had was essential.

"These issues are all of our issues. They're not just the players' issues. They're the owners' issues as well, and these issues of social injustice should be important to them."

Okung said he was impressed by the efforts of Philadelphia Eagles defensive end Chris Long, who is donating a year's worth of game checks to boost educational equality.

"Honestly, I'm not surprised Chris Long would do something like that," Okung said. "He's an amazing individual, an amazing man. And he's committed to some of his brothers who may not look like him or come from the same background. I think a lot of people should take what he's doing and replicate it wherever they can.

"He's a guy that's giving over his resources and equipping our people in our communities effectively."