Many other athletes — in the N.F.L. and elsewhere — have joined Kaepernick in his protest, but it is unlikely that any Bills players will kneel with him this weekend. That may be, at least in part, because Ryan has expressed his opinion that players should “look at the gifts we have,” such as playing professional football, because of the “men and women that serve our country.”

Speaking before the season, Ryan added, “I think that’s an opportunity right there just to show respect, and I think that’s why when you see our team, every one of us are on that line.”

While Ryan, who is white, also said he understood that others might have different opinions, in a league where players have nonguaranteed contracts — and thus can be cut quickly and capriciously — it can be tricky for players who might be hesitant to disagree with a figure of authority. To date, no Bills player has taken a knee.

“It’s a bit of a gray area when it comes to that,” said Duke Williams, a veteran safety who played college football with Kaepernick at the University of Nevada. “Certain guys do have the leverage to do something like that, and other guys don’t. That’s just the reality of our situation.”

Ryan’s connection to Trump — Ryan has declined on several previous occasions to detail his support for the candidate — could also present some unease in the locker room. Much as in offices or other workplaces, athletes frequently talk (and bicker) about politics, but nearly everyone can acknowledge that this presidential race is unusual in its rancor and divisiveness.

Thus, consider: A recent survey indicated that more than two-thirds of N.F.L. players are black, Latino or Asian/Pacific Islander, and political polls have shown that minorities are largely opposed to Trump’s insensitive, insult-heavy and, at times, xenophobic campaign.