Eagles rookie reverses course, won't sit in protest during national anthem

Myke Tavarres, the Philadelphia Eagles linebacker and rookie undrafted free agent, doesn't appear to be following Colin Kaepernick's lead after all.

After telling ESPN on Monday he plans to sit during the national anthem when the Eagles host the New York Jets on Thursday, Tavarres later reversed course and now does not plan to join the San Francisco 49ers quarterback in his protest.

"As a rookie, his goal is not to be a distraction for the Eagles," Tavarres' agent Corey Williams said, according to NFL Network's Mike Garafolo. "His coaches at Incarnate Word and I advised him to stand."

More power to 49ers' Colin Kaepernick for taking a stand against social injustice

Tavarres previously said that as a rookie free agent he has "nothing to lose" by following Kaepernick's example.

"We've got an issue in this country in this day and age, and I feel like somebody needs to step up and we all need to step up," Tavarres said.

Kaepernick said Sunday he will continue to sit during the Star Spangled Banner "to stand with the people that are being oppressed."

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