On the first full night of the NFL preseason, at least five players expressed some form of protest during the playing of the national anthem.
Two Eagles players raised their fists in Philadelphia, a Dolphins player did likewise in Miami, and two Dolphins took a knee.
Eagles safety Malcolm Jenkins, a longtime advocate on social issues, and defensive back De'Vante Bausby held up their fists while standing on the sideline with their teammates before the game against the visiting Pittsburgh Steelers. Defensive end Chris Long put his arm on Jenkins' back, a sign of solidarity he began last season.
Dolphins receivers Albert Wilson and Kenny Stills knelt behind teammates as the anthem played while defensive end Robert Quinn raised his right fist.
After a 2017 season in which the NFL struggled with the split national reaction to players using the anthem as a time for social statements, with President Donald Trump weighing in heavily on the topic, the league instituted a new policy banning on-field anthem protests.
However, the NFL put the new rule on hold when it began engaging the NFL Players Association in talks over how to best convey social-justice messages. The discussions have yet to produce a unified solution.
The NFL released a statement in response to Thursday's protests, saying, in part, "While those discussions (with the NFLPA) continue, the NFL has agreed to delay implementing or enforcing any club work rules that could result in players being disciplined for their conduct during the performance of the anthem. Meanwhile, there has been no change in the NFL's policy regarding the national anthem. The anthem will continue to be played before every game, and all player and non-player personnel on the field at that time are expected to stand during the presentation of the flag and performance of the anthem."
Jenkins tweeted Thursday afternoon, "Before we enjoy this game lets take some time to ponder that more than 60% of the prison population are people of color. The NFL is made up of 70% African Americans. What you witness on the field does not represent the reality of everyday America. We are the anomalies..."
Previously, Jenkins had called Jerry Jones a "bully" after the Dallas Cowboys owner announced that all players on his team would be required to stand for the anthem.
"There's always this kind of, speaking out of both ends from the league, (like) we support our players but then you put in a policy to take away their voices," Jenkins said last month. "Hopefully you'll have the majority of owners speak out on whatever side of this that they actually stand.
"When you have owners like Jerry Jones who speak so strongly and who has drawn his line in the sand and has been very vocal about it, and you've had other owners be very quiet, Jerry Jones is now the voice of NFL ownership. So unless you have some other owners come out with some definitive statements and support, they're going to allow Jerry Jones to push the narrative of not only NFL owners but the NFL as a whole."
Last month, the Dolphins reportedly were set to institute a policy under which players could be suspended up to four game for kneeling during the anthem, but that rule was set aside when the NFL and NFLPA began talks about the issue.
--Field Level Media