Almost exactly one year after 49ers’ Colin Kaepernick began his national anthem protests, 49ers’ safety Eric Reid was spotted kneeling along the San Francisco sideline prior to his team’s contest against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday evening.
The fifth-year NFL veteran and starting safety was the lone 49ers’ player who knelt during the anthem, but wide receiver Marquise Goodwin placed his hand on Reid’s right shoulder in a show of support for his teammate.
Reid is regarded as one of the most well-respected players in the 49ers’ locker room, and he joined Kaepernick last season during anthem protests. In the offseason, Reid stated that he would discontinue his protests, and he had not partaken in one prior to the start of the first two 49ers’ preseason games.
Reid’s decision to kneel during the anthem comes after 49ers’ general manager John Lynch stated that he believes anthem protests are “divisive.”