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Wild Card Round - Oakland Raiders v Houston Texans

Source: Matthew Stockman / Getty

It looks like more interesting news out of the Houston Texans’ today… their wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins was a no-show for Friday’s practice.
Today’s practice was opened to the media and everyone outlet was speculating if his absence was an injury issue or had something to do with team owner Bob McNair’s released quote today where he said, “We can’t have the inmates running the prison,” in reference to the protesting NFL players.

Apparently Hopkins wasn’t the only player unhappy about the owner’s words, ESPN’s Adam Schefter posted to Twitter saying, “Texans players wanted to walkout today in response to owner Bob McNair’s comments, per . Had to be persuaded to stay.”
NFL’s Ian Rapoport reported on Hopkin’s absence saying, “James Palmer has reported that it was because McNair’s comments. That is a significant situation for the team and Hopkins has done this in the past, walked out when something he believes strongly in. He did it again today.”
Rapoport continued with saying, “They had a meeting after a pretty heated players only meeting. Bill O’Brien, Romeo Crennel, the head defensive head coach essentially and Rick Smith the general manager met with players just to air some feelings and discuss what was going on in the room and how the players felt after Bob McNairs’ comments.”
 The hope is that Hopkins will make the trip to Seattle for their game against the Seahawks, but would it be bad if Hopkins protested?
O’Brien said at his presser today that Hopkins’ absence was “a personal day,” but he did not comment regarding McNair’s comments, Hopkins’ feelings about McNair’s comments or anything about the players’ feelings.