The deadline for NFL players to opt-out of the 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic is August 3. That deadline is fast approaching and Tuesday another batch of players added their name to the growing list of those who are sitting this season out.
As of yet, there hasn’t been a Raiders player to announce he is opting out of the season. But there have been several players on teams which the Raiders will face this season.
No team has had more opt-outs than the Patriots, who, as of today, have seen six players say ‘thanks, but no thanks’ to playing this season.
Here are all the players who have opted out from teams the Raiders face this season:
Patriots (Week 3)
LB Dont’a Hightower
RB Brandon Bolden
T Marcus Cannon
FB Dan Vitale
T Najee Toran
S Patrick Chung
Bills (Week 4)
DT Star Lotulelei
Chiefs (Week 5 and Week 11)
G Laurent Duvernay-Tardif
Note: The Chiefs signed Kelechi Osemele to replace him
Broncos (Week 10 and Week 17)
DT Kyle Peko
See the full updated list of opted-out players here. Of which there are currently 16.
The more players opt-out, the more competitive balance is affected. If too many opt-out, you’d have to think this season would be in jeopardy. It also would figure to have a few players who were on the fence deciding to take the leap. They have five days left to decide.
