Kaepernick Kneels Again, This Time on Monday Night Football

For the third week in a row, San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick took a knee during the national anthem in the team's season opener on Monday Night Football against the Los Angeles Rams.

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Kaepernick was joined by teammate Eric Reid for the second time as the two kneeled side by side while two other teammates, Antoine Bethea and Eli Harold, raised their fists.

Meanwhile Rams players Robert Quinn and Kenny Britt joined the protest and raised their fists as well.

Kaepernick has been making headlines that has kicked off a heated debate within the NFL after he declined to stand during the playing of the national anthem ahead of a preseason game on Aug. 26. He said his protests are meant to highñlight social injustice and racism against Black people in the United States.

"I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses Black people and people of color," Kaepernick said after he was first seen sitting during the anthem. "To me, this is bigger than football and it would be selfish on my part to look the other way. There are bodies in the street and people getting paid leave and getting away with murder."

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Seventeen NFL players and other U.S. athletes have joined the protest in the past week. Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Marcus Peters raised his right fist Sunday during the playing of the national anthem while his teammates stood on the sideline with their arms linked together in a show of unity.

Several Tennessee Titans players also raised their fists during the national anthem and the Seattle Seahawks locked arms before their home game against the Miami Dolphins, while several Dolphin players took a knee.

NFL Hall of Fame running back Jim Brown and NBA legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar have also shown support for the protest.

Denver Broncos linebacker Brandon Marshall was dropped by a company with close ties to the U.S. Army after he also boycotted the national anthem in a Thursday game in solidarity with his fellow NFL players.