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For the first time in league history, NFL players have the ability to opt-out of the upcoming season due to COVID-19. Players who are considered “high-risk” can receive $350,000 for this season if they were to opt-out, while “low-risk” players would earn $150,000.
Across the NFL, dozens of players have decided to do just that, including two starters for the Kansas City Chiefs in Damien Williams and Laurent Duvernay-Tardif. The biggest names who have opted-out include Pro-Bowl linebacker Dont’a Hightower and offensive tackle Marcus Cannon of the Patriots.
As of Thursday, no Raiders have decided to opt-out and it doesn’t appear that any will, according to head coach Jon Gruden. In a Zoom conference with reporters, Gruden confirmed that there were no positive COVID-19 tests and that no players plan on opting out for the 2020 season.
No player has told Gruden they are opting out and he has no positive COVID tests to report.
— Vic Tafur (@VicTafur) July 30, 2020
While players still have a week or so to decide if they want to play this season, it appears the Raiders will have most of their roster intact when the pads come on in the middle of August. Considering how many big names have already decided to pass on this season, it’s a big “win” for the Raiders that they will have their full roster available to them in camp.
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