Pittsburgh Steelers players plan to take the field as a group for the national anthem Monday night when they open the 2020 season against the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium.

Cornerback Steve Nelson indicated to reporters Saturday that the Steelers won’t follow the lead of the Houston Texans, who remained in the locker room Thursday night while the anthem was played prior to the NFL kickoff opener against the Kansas City Chiefs.

The Miami Dolphins also posted a video on social media saying they will remain inside the locker room until kickoff for their game Sunday against the New England Patriots.

“We’ll come out together as one unit and express our beliefs in that aspect,” Nelson said. “You will see that Monday.”

Asked if there is room for individual interpretation by Steelers players, Nelson said: “We’re all together. Unity.”

While Chiefs players remained on the field for the anthem Thursday, defensive end Alex Okafor kneeled while the rest of his teammates stood. The song “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” also known as the Black national anthem, will be played in addition to the “Star-Spangled Banner” before NFL games this season.

After the playing of both anthems Thursday, Chiefs and Texans players gathered at midfield and linked arms during a moment of silence.

The Steelers have social justice committees in place. When NFL teams canceled practices in August in protest of the Jacob Blake shooting, the Steelers remained on schedule, but players locked arms in solidarity prior to a scrimmage, and coach Mike Tomlin delivered a three-minute speech.

“We have a group of guys who discuss things,” wide receiver James Washington said Saturday. “Then, we get together as a group once we’ve discussed this. We have a deal in place. It will be shown Monday night.”

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