Seconds before the national anthem began, Eric Reid dropped to a knee.
The Carolina Panthers signed Reid, a former Pro Bowl safety with the San Francisco 49ers, to a one-year contract during its bye last week. After starter Da’Norris Searcy was placed on injured reserve, Reid represented an immediate upgrade in the secondary.
But along with his reputation as a ball-hawking, physical safety, Reid is also well-known for being the first player to kneel alongside former San Francisco quarterback Colin Kaepernick. Kaepernick first began kneeling during the national anthem during the 2016 season as a way to protest social injustice and police brutality, especially among minority groups.