President Donald Trump criticized NFL players who lodge pregame protests, saying in a speech in Alabama on Sept. 22 that he wished those players would be released. He also encouraged fans who are offended to walk out of stadiums. Several players and coaches reacted strongly to Trump on social media, and players -- joined by coaches and owners, in some instances -- across the league knelt, locked arms, raised their fists and even refused to come out of the locker room during the national anthem in Week 3. There were several more protests in Week 4. Vice President Mike Pence left the 49ers-Colts game at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis in Week 5 because of protesting that took place during the anthem.
Former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick started the pregame protest of racial oppression and inequality in the United States last season by sitting during the national anthem before a preseason game, then kneeling during the anthem throughout the season.
Previous protests this season: Week 6 | Week 5 | Week 4 | Week 3 | Week 2 | Week 1 | Preseason
Here are the players who protested in Week 7 (most recent updates first):
Philadelphia Eagles: Safety Malcolm Jenkins continued demonstrating for social justice by raising his first above his head during the national anthem prior to Monday’s home game against Washington. Safety Rodney McLeod joined him by raising a fist. Defensive end Chris Long placed an arm around Jenkins as a sign of support, a gesture he has made since the events in his hometown of Charlottesville, Virginia, this summer. A group of defensive backs that included Sidney Jones and Jaylen Watkins put hands on each other’s shoulders behind them. -- Tim McManus
New York Giants: Defensive end Olivier Vernon knelt during the national anthem before Sunday's game against the Seahawks, as he has done in the previous three games. He was inactive because of an ankle injury. -- Jordan Raanan
Seattle Seahawks: Michael Bennett and several other members of the Seahawks’ defensive line sat on the bench during the national anthem before Seattle’s game against the Giants. Also sitting were Cliff Avril, Sheldon Richardson, Frank Clark, Marcus Smith, Quinton Jefferson, Branden Jackson and Nazair Jones. Linebacker Michael Wilhoite took a knee while center Justin Britt stood with a supportive hand on Bennett’s shoulder and guard Oday Aboushi did the same with Jones. -- Brady Henderson
Los Angeles Chargers: For a second straight week, left tackle Russell Okung stood with the rest of his teammates during the national anthem, raising his right fist. Okung attended a meeting with NFL owners and commissioner Roger Goodell earlier this week to discuss how the league will handled anthem protests moving forward. Okung recently wrote an open letter to other NFL players on The Players' Tribune, with the goal of overcoming "uncharted territory" by opening a line of communication and responding with "one voice" as players.. -- Eric D. Williams
San Francisco 49ers: For the second week in a row, the 49ers had seven players who knelt during the national anthem before Sunday's game against the Cowboys. Safety Eric Reid, linebacker Reuben Foster, linebacker Eli Harold, safety Adrian Colbert, cornerback K’Waun Williams and receiver Marquise Goodwin were among them, but the seventh player was inactive and could not be identified. The rest of the team locked arms and stood throughout the playing of the anthem. -- Nick Wagoner
Tennessee Titans: Wide receiver Rishard Matthews remained in the locker room during the anthem on Sunday for the fourth consecutive week because he is protesting social injustice in the United States. The rest of the team stood. Linebacker Wesley Woodyard and defensive lineman Jurrell Casey raised a right fist after the anthem. -- Cameron Wolfe
Miami Dolphins: Receiver Kenny Stills, tight end Julius Thomas and safety Michael Thomas remained in the tunnel during the national anthem before Sunday's game against the Jets. All three players knelt before the Week 4 game against the Saints in London. Miami now has a team rule that players must stand if they are on the sideline, but they have the option to remain in the tunnel. -- James Walker
Los Angeles Rams: Outside linebacker Robert Quinn raised his right fist in the air and punter Johnny Hekker put his arm around him as a sign of solidarity, as has been the case for most of the season. No Rams players kneeled during the national anthem from London. -- Alden Gonzalez
New Orleans Saints: Most of the Saints' players briefly knelt in unity before the anthem against the Packers, as they have done in their past two games. They then all stood during the anthem, with several players and coaches locking arms. -- Mike Triplett
Indianapolis Colts: The Colts wore black T-shirts with the words “We Will” on the front and “Stand for equality, justice, unity, respect, dialogue, opportunity” on the back during pregame warm-ups for the fourth straight week. The players stood with their arms locked during the national anthem for the third straight week. -- Mike Wells
Kansas City Chiefs: Cornerback Marcus Peters sat on a training table behind the bench, and linebacker Ukeme Eligwe sat on the bench during the national anthem before the game against the Raiders on Thursday night. Peters has been sitting for the national anthem all season. -- Adam Teicher
Oakland Raiders: Marshawn Lynch remained seated during the playing of the national anthem before the Raiders' Thursday night game against the Chiefs, as he has since the preseason. He was surrounded by Raiders staff as he sat on the bench between Gatorade buckets. Lynch has not said why he has remained seated during the national anthem since joining the Raiders. He wore a T-shirt before the team's Week 4 game that read "EVERYBODY -VS- TRUMP." -- Paul Gutierrez