The stories behind Damien Williams and Laurent Duvernay-Tardif’s decisions to opt out of the 2020 NFL season are both well documented. Williams opted out to be with his mother as she battled cancer, while Duvernay-Tardif opted out to work in a long-term care facility near his hometown in Canada.
The other player who opted out for the Kansas City Chiefs, former 2020 third-round draft pick Lucas Niang, returned to the building to attend rookie minicamp this past weekend. For the first time, he was able to explain his decision to opt out to reporters.
“I just weighed it out and logically it seemed like the best decision to make,” Niang told reporters on Sunday. “I just didn’t feel comfortable. Not knowing enough about the (COVID-19), it felt like a logical thing to do.”
Niang said he spoke to doctors and his family members and that everyone supported him in his decision. During the course of the 2020 NFL season, he was still able to get work in on his own and prepare for his eventual return to the football field. He said that he’s been working on both guard and tackle technique and on both sides of the offensive line.
“I was just working out four days a week whether that be on the field or in the weight room stuff,” Niang said. “But I did a lot of football stuff week in and week out. I was watching so I wanted to get back out there and stay sharp.”
There was also constant communication between Niang, his teammates and Chiefs’ coaches. They wanted to ensure that he felt connected and that he was participating as much as he could from afar.
“I talked to some of my teammates and some of my coaches whether it be every week or every other week or whatever,” Niang said.
Looking back on his decision to opt out, Niang has no regrets. Sure, he would have loved to have been out there with his teammates, competing in Super Bowl LV. Who wouldn’t? Niang remains convicted that at the time of his decision, he made a choice that was best for his future health and well-being.
“I don’t regret my decision,” Niang said. “At the time, I thought it was the best decision to make for me. I was thinking long-term, and that’s what I decided.”
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