Seahawks, Titans to remain in locker room for national anthem

NFL players are taking silent action after Donald Trump’s critical comments, and the Seahawks and Titans will take their stance later Sunday afternoon.

After president Donald Trump’s critical comments directed at NFL players who kneel for the national anthem on Friday night, it was probably a forgone conclusion players league-wide would protest somehow on Sunday afternoon.

Every early game on Sunday had some form of protest, or a display of unity, on one or both sidelines. The Oakland Raiders’ offensive line will protest during the national anthem on Sunday night, and they’re in the Washington, D.C area to play the Redskins no less.

It’s also a foregone conclusion players in the late Sunday afternoon window will kneel for the national anthem or do something else they feel is appropriate in protest of Trump’s words. Packers’ quarterback Aaron Rodgers seems likely to lead some sort of movement in that area for his team before kickoff at Lambeau Field against the Bengals, but another game later Sunday afternoon will have an even wider protest taking place during the national anthem.

The Seattle Seahawks and Tennessee Titans will stay in their respective locker rooms during the national anthem before the 4:05 p.m. kickoff in Nashville, much as the Pittsburgh Steelers did in Chicago earlier on Sunday outside of offensive tackle Alejandro Villanueva. It looks like a joint decision was made to do it by the Seahawks and Titans, and a statement of some sort is forthcoming.

Next: NFL Hot Seat: 5 coaches who must win Week 3

It’s not a surprise the Seahawks are taking, and probably leading, action to protest Trump’s harsh comments. Wide receiver Doug Baldwin, cornerback Richard Sherman and defensive end Michael Bennett have all been notably outspoken in their drive against perceived social injustice, with ancillary criticism of the president via various avenues.