Safety Justin Reid discusses Kaepernick NIKE ads

HOUSTON (FOX 26) - Houston Texans rookie safety Justin Reid praised the decision by NIKE, Inc. to use former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick in its latest advertising campaign. The company released a commercial on Wednesday that is scheduled to air during the season-opening NFL game on Thursday. A giant billboard featuring Kaepernick was unveiled on top of the NIKE store in San Francisco.

“NIKE has always had a thing of being for the underdog," said Reid in the Texans locker room on Wednesday. "I love that about them and that’s what makes me so excited to be an ambassador for them.”

Reid’s older brother, former San Francisco 49ers safety Eric Reid, was a teammate of Kaepernick when he knelt during the national anthem as a silent protest against social injustice, especially the deaths of African Americans at the hands of police.

Kaepernick has not played in the NFL since the 2016 season and has filed a grievance against the NFL that alleges the owners conspired to keep him out of the league due to his protests.

Reid told reporters that he felt like he’s lived through this before and said everyone has a right to their opinion. He also said he applauds the decision by NIKE to use Kaepernick.

Reid’s brother Eric has also filed an arbitration case. He became a free agent after 2017 and is unsigned. He originally knelt with Kaepernick in 2016 and continued to protest during the 2017 season.