OAKLAND, Calif. — Matt Patricia has dodged questions about what he will and won't allow his players to do during the national anthem, but for Friday's preseason opener against the Oakland Raiders, every Detroit Lions player stood and linked arms for the singing of the song.
The Lions stood in a row along the out-of-bounds line in front of their bench.
Lions coach Matt Patricia stood in the middle of the line, with his right hand over his heart, and linked arms with linebackers Jarrad Davis and Trevor Bates.
On Thursday, four of 12 preseason games featured some form of player protest, and Miami Dolphins players Kenny Stills and Albert Wilson took a knee during the anthem.