It’s cleat weekend in the NFL. Here’s what Derek Carr and his teammates are planning

Many NFL players will be showing support for their favorite charities and honoring special people this weekend in the “My Cause, My Cleats” campaign.

Oakland Raiders running back DeAndre Washington said the March for Our Lives holds meaning to him because his sister, Taiesha “Tai” Watkins of Fresno, Texas, was among three people killed in a New Orleans shooting in late July.

“I know she’s watching me and she’s taking care of me,” Washington told reporters on Wednesday. “She had a huge heart, a big personality, so I can still feel her. I know she’s shining down with that big smile she always had.”

Washington said he’s recognizing March for Our Lives on his cleats because “I just wanted to bring awareness to gun violence.”

Washington’s specially designed shoes are orange and blue with “Tai Tai” on the side with an angel wing above her name with a sun on the side.

The NFL has rules about what players can wear. But Week 13 is special – you’ll see many players wearing unique kicks for “My Cause, My Cleats.” Most of the cleats will be auctioned to benefit the cause.

Washington and his teammates will be wearing the shoes of their favorite charities on Sunday when the Raiders take on the Kansas City Chiefs at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum.

Washington said he would like nothing more than to score a touchdown Sunday in his sister’s honor. “That’s the goal. That’s the plan. So I’m definitely pushing to get in there this week.”

Derek Carr promotes VCH

Raiders quarterback Derek Carr is once again supporting Valley Children’s HealthCare. His son Dallas needed series of life-saving surgeries after he was born at the Madera County children’s hospital in August 2013.

The cleats sport the hospital’s name and logo, along with Dallas’ name.

Carr did a similar tribute last season with the Fresno skyline on the shoes.

Dallas, now 5 years old, needed three surgeries as a newborn because of an intestinal complication and stayed in the hospital’s neonatal intensive care unit for more than three weeks. He’s healthy now.

The Carr family, including Derek, his wife, Heather, and brother David, have been staunch supporters of the hospital since, often making visits to patients and other personal appearances on behalf of Valley Children’s.

“We thank God for a place like that,” Derek Carr said. “Anything we can do to raise awareness, bring money in, whatever we can do to help them in doing what they’re doing for another family. The way they treated us and the way they treated our son and extended family, we just want that for other families, as well.”

The Raiders’ cleats were designed by Raiders equipment manager Bob Romanski, who’s known for his skill with an airbrush.

Local players raising awareness

▪ Buffalo Bills rookie quarterback Josh Allen (Firebaugh High/Reedley College) will be supporting the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Central California.

▪ San Diego Chargers tight end Virgil Green (Tulare Union High) will represent his own Green Family Foundation that supports communities with a Christian-based program. Green will have a prime-time platform since the Chargers play Sunday night at Pittsburgh.

▪ Minnesota Vikings middle linebacker (Hoover High) is supporting The Sheridan Story Fighting Youth Hunger.

▪ New York Giants cornerback Curtis Riley (Fresno State) is representing Ha Ha’s HERO Foundation. that supports underprivileged youth.

Oakland Raiders’ plans

Fadol Brown, Cancer Awareness (American Cancer Society) Adoption Services

Martavis Bryant, Child Abuse Prevention (Prevent Child Abuse America)

Shilique Calhoun, Breast Cancer Awareness (American Cancer Society)

Derek Carr, Youth Health & Wellness (Valley Children’s Healthcare)

Derek Carrier, Underserved Communities (Convoy of Hope)

Gareon Conley, Homelessness (Refuge of Hope)

Jared Cook, Breast Cancer Awareness (Susan G. Komen For The Cure) Down Syndrome Awareness (Down Syndrome Association of California)

Andrew DePaola, Mental Health Awareness (Bo’s Effort) Cancer Awareness (Peter J Golueke Foundation)

Justin Ellis, Underprivileged Youth (Current Phenomenon International)

Jon Feliciano, Gun Violence (March for Our Lives)

Leon Hall, Underprivileged Youth (Leon Hall Foundation) Erik Harris, Leukemia Awareness (Leukemia & Lymphoma Society)

Rodney Hudson, Autism Awareness (Autism Speaks)

Maurice Hurst, Pediatric Brain Cancer (Chad Tough Foundation) Gabe Jackson, Autism Awareness (Autism Speaks)

Karl Joseph, Breast Cancer Awareness (American Cancer Society)

Arden Key, Childhood Hunger (No Kid Hungry)

Brandon LaFell, Youth Speech Development (LaFell Group)

Emmanuel Lamur, Youth Empowerment (The Lamur Charity)

Marquel Lee, Breast Cancer Awareness (American Cancer Society)

Marshawn Lynch, Underprivileged Youth (Fam 1st Family Foundation)

Clinton McDonald, Community Development (Light Into Darkness)

Rashaan Melvin, Single-Parent Support Services & Underprivileged Youth (1 Route 4 Change)

Kolton Miller, Youth Craniofacial Conditions (Children’s Craniofacial Association)

Nicholas Morrow, International Aid (Agape Scholars International)

Jordy Nelson, Adoption Services (Jockey Being Family)

Nick Nelson, Breast Cancer Awareness (American Cancer Society)

Reggie Nelson, Breast Cancer Awareness

Kelechi Osemele, Mental Health Awareness (National Alliance on Mental Illness)

Donald Penn, Underprivileged Youth (Donald Penn Foundation)

Jalen Richard, Heart Health Awareness (American Heart Association)

Seth Roberts, Childhood Hunger (No Kid Hungry)

Frostee Rucker, Youth Mentoring (The Slim Foundation)

Trent Sieg, ALS Awareness (ALS Association)

Ian Silberman, Military Appreciation (Wounded Warrior Project)

Keith Smith, Youth Development (Dedicated Dads and Daughters)

Lee Smith, Pediatric Cancer Awareness (PUNT Foundation)

DeAndre Washington, Gun Violence (March for Our Lives)

Tahir Whitehead, Youth Education & Athletics (Downtown Boxing Gym)

Kyle Wilber, Suicide Prevention & Awareness (Active Minds/National Suicide Prevention)

Gabriel Wright, Autism Awareness (Do the Wright Thing)

Ryan Yurachek, Financial Support Services (Trident United Way)