Much like the MLB and NBA, the NFL has agreed to allow players to opt out of the 2020 season for health and safety reasons.
In the collectively bargained agreement between the NFL and NFLPA, players who are considered “high risk” for COVID-19 can earn $350,000 and an accrued NFL season if they choose to opt out. Those who are not deemed “high risk” can earn $150,000 for opting out.
With NFL training camp set to begin, players are starting to make their decisions on whether or not they will play in this year.
Here is who is the complete list of opt outs for the 2020 season:
Marcus Gilbert, OL, Arizona Cardinals
De’Anthony Thomas, KR, Baltimore Ravens
Andre Smith, OL, Baltimore Ravens
E.J. Gaines, CB, Buffalo Bills
Star Lotulelei, DT, Buffalo Bills
Christian Miller, LB, Carolina Panthers
Miller announced he would sit out after a promising rookie season that was cut short by injury.
Jordan Mack, LB, Carolina Panthers
Eddie Goldman, DT, Chicago Bears
Goldman, a key cog in the Bears’ defense, reportedly is opting out due to health concerns, which may means he has a medical condition and could be deemed high risk. He is the first Bears player to opt out.
Jordan Lucas, S, Chicago Bears
The reserve defensive back, who signed with the Bears after winning the Super Bowl with the Chiefs, officially opted out on Aug. 3 after previously expressing concerns about the pandemic.
Isaiah Prince, OT, Cincinnati Bengals
Josh Tupou, DT, Cincinnati Bengals
Andrew Billings, DT, Cleveland Browns
Drake Dorbeck, OT, Cleveland Browns
Drew Forbes, G, Cleveland Browns
Colby Gossett, OG, Cleveland Browns
Malcolm Pridgeon, G, Cleveland Browns
Maurice Candy, CB, Dallas Cowboys
Stephen Guidry, WR, Dallas Cowboys
Jamize Olawale, FB, Dallas Cowboys
Ja'Wuan James, OT, Denver Broncos
Kyle Peko, DL, Denver Broncos
Geronimo Allison, WR, Detroit Lions
Allison, a former Packer, opted out after signing a one-year deal with Detroit.
John Atkins, DT, Detroit Lions
Russell Bodine, C, Detroit Lions
Devin Funchess, WR, Green Bay Packers
Eddie Vanderdoes, DT, Houston Texans
Rolan Milligan, S, Indianapolis Colts
Skai Moore, LB, Indianapolis Colts
Marvell Tell, S, Indianapolis Colts
Lerentee McCray, LB, Jacksonville Jaguars
Rashaad Melvin, CB, Jacksonville Jaguars
Al Woods, DT, Jacksonville Jaguars
The big-bodied run-stopper signed a one-year deal with the Jags this offseason.
Lucas Niang, OT, Kansas City Chiefs
Laurent Duvernay-Tardif, OL, Kansas City Chiefs
Duvernay-Tardiff is opting out of the season so he can continue working at a long-term care facility in Quebec to help fight the coronavirus pandemic.
Damien Williams, RB, Kansas City Chiefs
Williams, a key part of the Chiefs' Super Bowl-winning offense last season, cited his mom's diagnosis of cancer as his reason for opting out of this season.
D.J. Killings, CB, Las Vegas Raiders
Jeremiah Valoaga, DE, Las Vegas Raiders
Ukeme Eligwe, LB, Las Vegas Raiders
Chandler Brewer, OT, Los Angeles Rams
Davon Godchaux, DT, Miami Dolphins
Allen Hurns, WR, Miami Dolphins
Albert Wilson, WR, Miami Dolphins
Michael Pierce, DL, Minnesota Vikings
Brandon Bolden, RB, New England Patriots
Marcus Cannon, OT, New England Patriots
Cannon, 32, is a cancer survivor – who was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma before the 2011 NFL Draft. The veteran tackle is considered a high risk candidate and will receive $350,000 this season.
Patrick Chung, S, New England Patriots
Chung became the sixth Patriots player to opt out of the season. The 12-year veteran had expressed concerns on social media earlier in July about being able to play and adhere to social distancing.
Dont’a Hightower, LB, New England Patriots
Hightower, 30, is not high risk himself, but has a newborn baby boy and a mother with Type 2 diabetes. He was set to earn a base salary of $8 million, which will now toll to the 2021 season.
Matt LaCosse, TE, New England Patriots
LaCosse made it eight total Patriots to opt out of the season with his decision on Sunday.
Marqise Lee, WR, New England Patriots
Lee, who signed with the Patriots to a one-year deal in April, is opting out citing the birth of his newborn daughter. Lee became the seventh Patriots player to opt out of this season.
Danny Vitale, FB, New England Patriots
Najee Toran, G, New England Patriots
Cole Wick, TE, New Orleans Saints
Sam Beal, CB, New York Giants
Da'Mari Scott, WR, New York Giants
Nate Solder, OL, New York Giants
Solder, a cancer survivor, announced that he was opting out of the season on Wednesday. Not only is Solder a cancer survivor and deemed high risk for COVID, but his son is also a cancer survivor and he and his wife welcomed another baby boy back in the spring.
Josh Doctson, WR, New York Jets
Leo Koloamatangi, OL, New York Jets
C.J. Mosley, LB, New York Jets
Mosley has not commented publicly for his reasons on opting out, but it is believed to be due to family health. Mosley, who signed a five-year deal with the Jets last year, missed 14 games last season due to a groin injury that required surgery.
Marquise Goodwin, WR, Philadelphia Eagles
Goodwin informed the team on Tuesday that he was opting out due to health concerns. The 29-year-old wide receiver just had a newborn baby girl five months ago after three previous miscarriages.
Travis Benjamin, WR, San Francisco 49ers
Shon Coleman, OT, San Francisco 49ers
Chance Warmack, OL, Seattle Seahawks
Brad Seaton, OT, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Anthony McKinney, OL, Tennessee Titans
Caleb Brantley, DE, Washington
Brantley was the first high-risk player to announce he would opt out of the 2020 season.
Josh Harvey-Clemons, LB, Washington
Larry Warford, G, Free Agent
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