An Atlanta Falcons player injuring his knee when he was kneeling during the U.S. National Anthem is fake news. There is no truth to a report that a player was hurt before an NFL game when he decided to join in the kneeling during the National Anthem.
Last year, NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick began kneeling during the national anthem to protest racial inequality. Over the course of the season, other players joined his protest by kneeling, sitting or raising their fists during the anthem. While Kaepernick is no longer employed with a team, other players have continued to protest during the anthem.
Now, where did the fake news originate? Freedum Junkshun published the fake news article reporting that a player for the Falcons injured his knee during the protest and would be out for the entire season. You can read the fake news below.
Oh, this is priceless! The Atlanta Falcons are now down a player not because of an injury he acquired at a game. This wasn’t a normal “someone just got hurt playing football” scenario, either. Third-string quarterback Darnell Russell got a strong dose of karma as he dropped to one knee during the National Anthem.
Russell has only played one game this season, a game that the Falcons lost, but every single week he has joined the team in kneeling for the National Anthem – a protest against police for doing their jobs, our military, our flag, our Constitution, and our freedom. On Sunday when he “took a knee,” something snapped. ESPN reports:
“Things were off to a tense start at Mercedes-Benz Stadium when Falcons reserve quarterback Darius Russell suddenly screamed in pain as the team knelt for the National Anthem protest. …”
However, there is no truth to the above story, according to Hoax Alert. First of all, there is no “Darnell Russell” or “Darius Russell” who actually plays for the Atlanta Falcons. Furthermore, there has been no report from such major sports outlets like ESPN.
Lastly, the image that was used in the fake news article from Freedum Junkshun actually depicts Falcons player Harry Douglas after getting injured during a game in 2014.
Here is an example of someone sharing the fake news on social media.
What goes around comes around: Atlanta Falcons Player Injures Knee as He Kneels for Anthem, Out for the Season! https://t.co/VliIBsrk7x
— Homunculus aka #Hom (@HomunculusLoikm) October 16, 2017
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What did you think of the fake news that a player for the Falcons injured himself while kneeling during the National Anthem? Did you believe the fake news or see people sharing it falsely on social media? Let us know in the comments section.