National Football League

Players at several NFL games protest during national anthem

Published Sep. 25, 2016 2:28 p.m. ET

foxsports

Players at several NFL games Sunday made small demonstrations during the national anthem, kneeling, raising a fist in the air or using other displays.

Panthers safety Marcus Ball, who was elevated to the active roster this week, held his right hand up in the air during the national anthem. He was the only Carolina player who protested during the anthem after the police shooting of a 43-year-old African-American man in Charlotte this week.

A handful of Tennessee Titans and a couple of Oakland Raiders also raised their fists in protest.

Tennessee's defensive captain and tackle Jurrell Casey, linebacker Wesley Woodyard and cornerback Jason McCourty had protested in a similar fashion after the anthem for the season opener on Sept. 11, and were joined Sunday, by teammates DaQuan Jones and Perrish Cox. Oakland linebacker Bruce Irvin bowed his head and raised his right fist along with fellow linebacker Malcolm Smith.

Four Washington Redskins -- WRs DeSean Jackson and Rashad Ross, cornerback Greg Toler and tight end Niles Paul -- stood two steps behind the rest of the team on the sideline during the anthem and held up their right arms, fists clenched, for the entire song.

Numerous Bills players kneeled in the west end zone just before the song began and then rejoined their team to stand along the sideline during the anthem.

Broncos safety T.J. Ward stood and raised his right fist before a game against the Bengals in Cincinnati. His teammates next to him stood with hands over their hearts or crossed in front of them.

Michael Thomas, Kenny Stills and Arian Foster kneeled again during the national anthem before Miami's game against Cleveland on Sunday. Thomas, Stills and Foster have now done so in prior to all three Dolphins games this season. Foster is inactive for the game because of injury.

Four Jacksonville Jaguars raised their right fists before their game against Baltimore. Defensive end Dante Fowler Jr., linebacker Telvin Smith, defensive end Jared Odrick and linebacker Hayes Pullard III joined the movement for the first time Sunday.