New Panther Eric Reid Kneels Before First Game Back in NFL

In his return to the NFL, Eric Reid picked up right where he left off by kneeling during the national anthem.

Reid, who was the first player to take a knee during the “Star-Spangled Banner” alongside Colin Kaepernick during their time together in San Francisco, returned to the controversial practice before his first game playing for the Carolina Panthers Sunday.

Afterward, Reid said he knelt because the country has “made no progress” on social justice issues

“We’ve made baby steps, but people try to give crumbs and present them as cakes,” Reid said, according to the Charlotte Observer. “So you can come at me with all the hate you want, but it doesn’t change the fact of the truth. I’ve always been considering what’s best for the movement. I’ve always told myself when the time comes to stop kneeling that I’ll stop – that time has not come.”

Eric Reid reflected on the Panthers' comeback victory pic.twitter.com/79ukChf7MG

— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) October 7, 2018

Like Kaepernick, Reid has an ongoing collusion case against the NFL which alleges owners banded together to keep him out of the league because of his politics and demonstrations.

Even though Reid and other players such as Kenny Stills and Albert Wilson have been protesting before the anthem this year, less attention has been paid to those displays.