Demaryius Thomas chose to stay in the tunnel during the national anthem prior to Saturday night's preseason game, breaking from Von Miller's assertion in May that the Denver Broncos would stand as a team.

"It wasn't a decision," Thomas said. "It's just that I always had it on my mind. Not even this year, but last year. It's just something I've dealt with growing up, racism as a kid, kind of still do as a grown up and my family still deals with it today and doesn't get justice. It's something I've dealt with, my family has dealt with and others around the country have dealt with so much. It's just tough to see that, because I'm one who wants to put out love to everybody. I don't see color. I don't see none of that. To see people get hurt and not get justice is sad."

A handful of protests took place during the anthem in the first full week of the preseason.

"I don't think it was a right or wrong time," Thomas added. "It's what I was going to do.

"... It's what I feel passionate about. People bash me about playing football. They talk about my game, and it's what I do everyday. It is what it is. I don't pay attention to it. I don't pay attention to social media and TV and all that stuff."