Former Georgia nose tackle and current Detroit Lions defensive tackle John Atkins has opted out of the 2020 NFL season.
Atkins becomes the first player on the Lions to opt out due to COVID-19 concerns.
Atkins appeared in 12 games for the Lions last season. He signed with the New England Patriots as an undrafted free agent in 2018. The 6-foot-3, 320-pound defensive tackle joined Detroit’s practice squad in September of 2018.
All NFL players have until seven days after the league’s new collective bargaining agreement is signed to opt out of the season. Players that decide to opt out will receive a $150,000 stipend that will be treated as a salary advancement from the 2021 season.
