NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Titans receiver Rishard Matthews has said since President Trump's Sept. 23 comments taking on NFL players protesting during the national anthem that he would kneel until there was an apology.

In three games since, the Titans collectively stayed in the locker room once and Matthews stayed in the locker room and emerged after the anthem twice.

He was asked on Twitter what he'd do if the NFL changed the rules.

The tweet has since been deleted.

In 2016, Matthews signed a three-year, $15 million contract as a free agent, joining the Titans from Miami.

He's second on the Titans with 20 catches and first with 284 receiving yards.

There is an open locker room later Thursday afternoon and I'll try to follow up with him.

UPDATE, 4 p.m. CT: Matthews was not in the locker room during availability.

I support his right to protest, but I do find it odd that when he's gained chances to expound on things, he's often declined.

When he didn't come out of the locker room until after the anthem at Houston on Oct. 1, he said after the game he was only taking football questions.

He's free to do as he chooses, obviously. But when you skip the anthem or say you'll be done with football if the anthem rule changes, it would seem part of the reason for doing so is to be heard. And now at least twice, with a premium chance to be heard, he's had nothing to say.

It's kind of curious.

I'll look to ask him about that next time he does decide to talk.