The Washington Commanders announced Friday that they will honor three University of Virginia football players killed in an on-campus shooting this week with special decals on the team's helmets.
In a statement on Twitter, the team said that the decals will display the jersey numbers of the players killed and be worn during Sunday's game against the Texans.
MORE: How 10 former Virginia football coaches will honor players killed in shooting
What do the Commanders' helmet decals mean?
Virginia football players Lavel Davis Jr., Devin Chandler and D'Sean Perry were shot and killed, allegedly by a former player, Christopher Darnell Jones Jr., on a charter bus as they returned from a field trip on Nov. 13. Two other students were shot but survived, including junior running back Mike Hollins.
The tragedy sent shockwaves through the sports world, and tributes have poured in. Washington is the first NFL team to announce an official tribute to the players killed.
The team's helmet decals feature Davis, Chandler and Perry's jersey numbers: 1, 15 and 41, respectively.
On Sunday the team will be wearing three helmet decals: 1, 15, and 41 to honor the three UVA football players who lost their lives last Sunday.
— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) November 18, 2022
Our hearts are with @UVAFootball and the UVA community affected by the tragedy.#UVAStrong | #FootballIsFamily pic.twitter.com/vWgC5GWRt7
Earlier in the week, the team issued a statement on Twitter sending condolences to the Virginia football program and people across the state who had been impacted.
Our Commanders family sends its deepest condolences to the @UVAFootball program, UVA community and all those in Charlottesville and across the Commonwealth affected by last night's tragedy.
— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) November 14, 2022
Virginia has canceled the football team's final home game of the season, which was scheduled to be played Saturday against Coastal Carolina. Instead, a memorial service will be held at John Paul Jones Arena at 3:30 p.m. ET.
Jones, the suspected shooter, is being held without bond at the Albemarle-Charlottesville Regional Jail.
