Colin Kaepernick isn’t No. 1 on the 49ers depth chart but he is in the NFL’s jersey sales, from which he vowed that all proceeds he earns will be donated back to communities.

Kaepernick’s jersey sales have soared since his national-anthem protest during the exhibition season. He’s said he will continue to kneel during the pregame anthem as he strives to continue the national dialogue regarding racial injustice and police brutality.

Kaepernick, on his Instagram account with 1.4 million followers, posted the following message:

“I want to thank everyone who has shown me love and support, it truly means a lot! I wasn’t expecting my jersey sales to jump to number one because of this, but it shows the people’s belief that we can achieve justice and equality for ALL! The only way I can repay you for the support is to return the favor by donating all the proceeds I receive from my jersey sales back into the communities! I believe in the people, and WE can be the change!”

That caption followed a collage of pictures with fans and supporters in his jersey, including children and hip-hop artist J. Cole.

Kaepernick vowed last week to donate first the $1 million he earned this year to unnamed community organizations helping oppressed citizens. He is slated to make $11.9 million in base salary with the 49ers.

While Kaepernick has drawn criticism for his act of not standing during the national anthem, the NFL and 49ers have taken a neutral stance and defended his rights as an American, as has President Obama. Kaepernick was joined in his protest by teammate Eric Reid as they knelt during last Thursday’s national anthem before their exhibition finale at San Diego.

Other sports figures also have mimicked Kaepernick, including Seattle Seahawks cornerback Jeremy Lane and U.S. women’s soccer star Megan Rapinoe.

Kaepernick will remain on the sideline Monday night when the 49ers open their regular season, with Blaine Gabbert starting ahead of him at quarterback against the Los Angeles Rams.

Wide receiver Torrey Smith believes Kaepernick’s stance has galvanized the 49ers locker room, which held a players-only meeting on the issue Aug. 28.

“The locker room’s probably better than it was,” Smith said Wednesday morning on KNBR 680-AM, the 49ers flagship radio station. “… When Kap made his stance, it made it bigger and there are more people talking. It made our team better in a lot of ways and honestly it hasn’t been a distraction at all.”

Smith, who’s been perhaps the most outspoken 49er on social issues over the past year, has not joined the pregame protest and is unsure if he will.

“Maybe. Maybe not. I don’t know,” Smith said. “A lot of us are the feeling the same way about certain issues. It’s just a matter of how you view that stance. It would say something for a lot of guys to do it and it would take the microscope off Kap. They’re not talking about what he’s protesting for but the act itself.”

U.S. hockey coach John Tortorella has taken a hard-line approach to the matter: “If any of my players sit on the bench for the national anthem, they will sit there for the rest of the game.” The World Cup of Hockey begins Sept. 17.