Twelve Cleveland Browns players kneeled in prayer during the national anthem on Monday night ahead of the teams preseason game with the New York Giants .

The Browns protest was the largest the NFL has seen since last year, when players started kneeling during renditions of The Star-Spangled Banner to protest racial injustice. The demonstration started when former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick , who is currently a free agent, kneeled during the national anthems before his games.

On Monday, linebacker Christian Kirksey led the group in prayer, according to ESPN . USA Today reported Kirksey was joined by fellow linebacker Jamie Collins, cornerback Jamar Taylor, running backs Duke Johnson, Terrence Magee, Isaiah Crowell and Brandon Wilds, safeties Jabrill Peppers and Calvin Pryor, tight end Seth DeValve and wide receivers Kenny Britt and Ricardo Louis.

In a sign of support, five other teammates rookie quarterback DeShone Kizer, defensive back Jason McCourty, offensive lineman Marcus Martin, offensive tackle Shon Coleman and punter Britton Colquitt stood during the anthem while placing their hands on the shoulders of the kneeling players