Denver Broncos defensive lineman Kyle Peko is opting out of the 2020 season because of the COVID-19 pandemic, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport first reported on Tuesday.
NFL owners and the players’ union came to an agreement last weekend about player opt-out due to the coronavirus. “High-risk” players will earn $350,000 this year if they opt-out and players not placed in that category will earn $150,000. Touchdown Wire is tracking all of the opt-outs here.
Peko’s wife, Juliana, battled Hodgin’s Lymphoma last year. That might make Kyle a candidate for the “high risk” designation.
Peko has a two-year, $1.34 million contract. He was scheduled to earn $515,000 this season but was a longshot to make Denver’s 53-man roster. The Broncos have a lot of depth on the defensive line and Peko has struggled to earn playing time since joining the team in 2016.
After signing with Denver as a college free agent out of Oregon State, Peko spent most of his first three seasons on the Broncos’ practice squad. He then had stints with the Buffalo Bills and Indianapolis Colts before returning to Denver last December.
The 27-year-old defensive lineman has totaled 13 tackles in 13 games.
