You might see some players sit out the 2020 season.
The two sides have been discussing the possibility of players being able to opt-out of the 2020 season for the past few weeks, but this is the first time that hard date has been put on the table to this point. This Aug. 1 deadline does give teams over a month to figure out a replacement for a given player who has opted out prior to the regular season kicking off, beginning with the Texans and Chiefs on Thursday, Sept. 10. The first Sunday of the 2020 season is currently scheduled for Sept. 13.
As for who can opt-out, it appears like it’s not limited to a specific group. Those who have pre-existing conditions can decide to sit out along with players who have family members with pre-existing conditions. Even players who have general concerns about COVID-19 are allowed to opt-out, which essentially means any player can choose this path if they so choose.
