Washington Redskins running back Adrian Peterson will "without a doubt" take a knee during the United States national anthem to protest racial injustice following George Floyd's death.

There have been nationwide protests in the United States after Floyd – an African-American man – died in police custody in Minneapolis on May 25.

A police officer was filmed kneeling on Floyd's neck during an arrest after he was crying out for help as he was handcuffed and pinned to the ground.

Former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick was the first player to kneel during the anthem in protest against racial injustice in 2016, before he was released the following year.

New Orleans Saints star Drew Brees said players who knelt during the anthem were "disrespecting the flag", comments which sparked fierce backlash and led to an apology.

Peterson – a former team-mate of Brees in New Orleans – weighed in and the 35-year-old told the Houston Chronicle: "Just four years ago, you're seeing [Colin] Kaepernick taking a knee, and now we're all getting ready to take a knee together going into this season, without a doubt."

"Yeah, without a doubt, without a doubt," 2012 NFL MVP Peterson replied when asked if he personally planned to take a knee.

"We've got to put the effort in as a group collectively. Are they going to try to punish us all? If not, playing football is going to help us save lives and change things, then that's what it needs to be."

Redskins veteran and seven-time Pro Bowler Peterson, who moved to Washington from the Arizona Cardinals in 2018, ran for 898 yards and five touchdowns last season.