NFL reacts to Colin Kaepernick sitting during national anthem

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick has been heavily criticized recently for not standing during the national anthem.

According to ESPN, Kaepernick was spotted sitting between two Gatorade jugs during the national anthem on Friday before a game against the Green Bay Packers. He has sat during the national anthem in all the 49ers' preseason games. Kaepernick said that racial oppression, which he has witnessed and been a part of, and police brutality are the reasons for sitting during the anthem. He also says he plans to continue to sit during the national anthem until he sees some real change when it comes to racial oppression.

"Yes, I'll continue to sit," Kaepernick said. "I'm going to continue to stand with the people that are being oppressed. To me this is something that has to change. When there's significant change and I feel like that flag represents what it's supposed to represent, this country is representing people the way that it's supposed to, I'll stand."

He added that he has nothing against the military and that the military isn’t the reason that he’s sitting during the "Star-Spangled Banner." Another reason for him sitting is to show his displeasure for presidential candidates Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton.

"You have Hillary [Clinton], who has called black teens or black kids superpredators," Kaepernick said. "You have Donald Trump, who is openly racist. We have a presidential candidate [Clinton] who has deleted emails and done things illegally and is a presidential candidate. That doesn't make sense to me. If that was any other person, you'd be in prison. So what is this country really standing for?"

Kaepernick’s spot on the 49ers roster could be in jeopardy due to his declining performance on the field and not for boycotting the national anthem, according to Fox Sports. Last year, he threw for 1,615 yards and six touchdowns and had five interceptions.

NFL players and fans reacted via Twitter to the quarterback's decision to sit while the anthem is played and at least one 49ers fan burned his jersey.