Brandon Marshall Kneels During National Anthem Before Panthers vs. Broncos

Denver Broncos linebacker Brandon Marshall knelt during the national anthem prior to Thursday night's NFL season opener against the Carolina Panthers.  

"I'm not against the military," Marshall said after the game, per Cameron Wolfe of the Denver Post. "I'm not against the police or America. I'm against social injustice."

The Charlotte Observer's Joe Person noted that all of the other Broncos and Panthers were standing. 

"While we encourage members of our organization to stand during the National Anthem, we understand and respect it being a personal decision," the Broncos said in a statement, per Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio. 

"Brandon is a great kid," head coach Gary Kubiak said, per Nicki Jhabvala of the Denver Post. "He is a leader of this team. I believe in my players."

Von Miller added after the game that he supports Marshall and 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick in the idea that change is needed, though he won't kneel for the anthem, per Judy Battista of NFL.com.

Marshall's decision to kneel for "The Star-Spangled Banner" comes on the heels of Kaepernick telling NFL Media's Steve Wyche that he opted against standing in a show of unity for those who he believes are treated unjustly. 

"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. "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."

Altitude TV's Vic Lombardi noted that Marshall was a college teammate of Kaepernick's with the Nevada Wolf Pack. 

Marshall—who joined Kaepernick, 49ers safety Eric Reid and Seattle Seahawks cornerback Jeremy Lane as those who have protested—has also been outspoken about players spurring change. 

“We can post (on social media) and say all we want, but that’s the real change. To get out in the community and say we’re going to do this,” Marshall said, per the Denver Post's Cameron Wolfe. "Sometimes you have to go straight to the source and really have a conversation to sit down and talk with the leaders."

With a 13-game slate of games approaching on Sunday, it appears as though planned protests could continue through the weekend. 

According to ESPN.com's Sheil Kapadia, Seattle Seahawks linebacker Bobby Wagner disclosed that his squad may unite for a team-wide display of unity. 

"Anything that we want to do, it's not going to be individual," he said, per Kapadia. "It's going to be a team thing because that's what the world needs to see. The world needs to see people coming together versus being individuals."