List of NFL players to opt out of 2020 season

[Udog]

List of NFL players to opt out of 2020 season

Under the amended collective bargaining agreement between the NFL and NFL Players Association, agreed to on July 24, players have the choice to opt out of the 2020 NFL season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

If a player wishes to opt out, he must provide his club with written notification within seven days of the date that the NFL and NFLPA finalize the agreement that includes the terms of such opt-outs.

To be designated a voluntary opt-out, a player must be under contract or subject to a tender. The player's contract will toll and all provisions of that contract for the tolled year will be applicable the following season; however, he will not receive an accrued season. The player will be eligible for a stipend of $150,000 to be treated as a salary advance against his tolled contract; an undrafted free agent, however, is not eligible for the stipend.

To be designated a higher-risk opt-out, a player must have a diagnosis reflected in their medical records of at least one of the following factors, which are based upon a modified list of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) risk factors list: cancer; chronic kidney disease; COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease); immunocompromised state from solid organ transplant; serious heart conditions, such as heart failure, coronary artery disease, or cardiomyopathies; sickle cell disease; type 2 diabetes mellitus; asthma; cerebrovascular disease; cystic fibrosis; hypertension or high blood pressure; immunocompromised state from blood or bone marrow transplant, immune deficiencies, HIV, use of corticosteroids, or use of other immune weakening medicines; neurologic conditions, such as dementia; liver disease; or pulmonary fibrosis.

It is not mandatory for a "higher risk" player to opt out. A higher-risk opt-out will receive an accrued season toward free agency and all benefits and minimum salary credit for a credited season and is also eligible for a stipend of $350,000, which will not constitute a salary advance.

Here are the NFL players to opt out of the 2020 season so far:

VOLUNTARY OPT-OUTS

Baltimore Ravens: KR De'Anthony Thomas, OL Andre Smith

Buffalo Bills: DT Star Lotulelei

Dallas Cowboys: CB Maurice Canady, WR Stephen Guidry

Green Bay Packers: WR Devin Funchess

Houston Texans: DT Eddie Vanderdoes

Kansas City Chiefs: OL Laurent Duvernay-Tardif

New England Patriots: LB Dont'a Hightower, FB Dan Vitale, RB Brandon Bolden, OL Najee Toran

Seattle Seahawks: OL Chance Warmack

Tennessee Titans: OL Anthony McKinney

HIGHER RISK OPT-OUTS

Minnesota Vikings: DT Michael Pierce

New England Patriots: OL Marcus Cannon

Washington Football Team: DE Caleb Brantley

UNSPECIFIED OPT-OUTS

Carolina Panthers: UDFA LB Jordan Mack

Chicago Bears: DT Eddie Goldman

Denver Broncos: DT Kyle Peko

New England Patriots: S Patrick Chung

New Orleans Saints: TE Jason Vander Laan, TE Cole Wick

New York Giants: OL Nate Solder

New York Jets: OL Leo Koloamatangi

Philadelphia Eagles: WR Marquise Goodwin

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Vic Beasley skips testing again, has not communicated with Titans
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The Tennessee Titans still haven't heard from Vic Beasley.

NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported Wednesday that the veteran pass rusher did not show up for COVID-19 testing again Wednesday. There has been no communication with the team on why he's missed testing or where he is, per sources informed of the situation.

The Titans placed Beasley on the reserve/did not report list on Tuesday after he skipped the first day of testing for veteran players.

Tennessee signed Beasley this offseason to add oomph to their pass rush, hoping the one-year prove-it deal would bring the best out of the former first-round pick.

Thus far, Tennessee hasn't heard from Beasley on whether he will opt out of the 2020 season or why he hasn't reported for testing with the rest of his new teammates.

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Cameron Brate contracted and fully recovered from COVID-19, and he's using that information to motivate countless more to help in the fight to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus.

The Buccaneers tight end took to Instagram Wednesday to encourage his followers to donate plasma, and in the process of doing so, revealed his own personal diagnosis and eventual recovery with just a single line: "Thankful to have fully recovered from COVID-19."

Wednesday's post was the first public revelation of Brate's contraction of the virus that has most of the world in its grips. A handful of other notable NFL players have revealed their own experiences with COVID-19 at their own discretion, and the NFLPA's information hub lists 107 total players who tested positive for the virus during the offseason.

Brate is spreading his important message because those who have recovered from COVID-19 develop antibodies to the virus in their plasma. Their blood is called convalescent plasma, which is being used by some doctors to treat those with severe symptoms from COVID-19 with the hope that the antibodies in the plasma can boost their ability to fight the virus, according to the Mayo Clinic.