Eagles Players Undecided About Kneeling for National Anthem During Preseason

To kneel or not to kneel, that is the question.

Eagles S Malcolm Jenkins (27), Eagles S Rodney McLeod (23), and Eagles DE Chris Long (56) stand together during the National Anthem before the game between the Arizona Cardinals and Philadelphia Eagles on October 08, 2017 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, PA. (Photo by Kyle Ross/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Eagles S Malcolm Jenkins (27), Eagles S Rodney McLeod (23), and Eagles DE Chris Long (56) stand together during the National Anthem before the game between the Arizona Cardinals and Philadelphia Eagles on October 08, 2017 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, PA. (Photo by Kyle Ross/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Before the first game of the preseason, the Bears and Ravens stood for the national anthem.

However, that was just one game. On Thursday night, a full set of preseason games will kick off and what NFL players decide to do before they do has not yet been decided.

At least that’s according to Malcolm Jenkins and Michael Bennett of the defending champion Philadelphia Eagles, both of whom took a knee and protested at times last season.

“I’m not sure yet,” Jenkins told Philly.com. “I honestly haven’t thought about it.” Bennett was even more vague and didn’t directly answer when asked if he was going to protest.

Though he didn’t divulge his plans for the anthem, Jenkins did hint the Players Coalition – a group he helped found which works on social reform issues within communities – might be releasing an Op-Ed piece about the anthem conundrum on Wednesday.

Whether they protest or not, Jenkins think players have started to realize the power they hold.

“Guys have been very active. Guys are starting to find different avenues, different ways they can contribute,” he said. “People are beginning to see this is bigger than just the two minutes of the national anthem.”

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