Tag: opt out

Who will replace Ja’Wuan James on the Broncos’ offensive line?

Who will step up on the Broncos’ offensive line after Ja’Wuan James opted out of the 2020 season?

After Ja’Wuan James opted out of the 2020 season, the Denver Broncos will need a new plan at right tackle.

James, who missed most of last season while injured, was expected to serve as Denver’s starting right tackle this year. The most likely candidate to replace him is Elijah Wilkinson, who joined the team as an undrafted free agent out of Massachusetts in 2017.

Wilkinson served as a backup swing guard/tackle as a rookie and then was an injury fill-in starter for seven games in 2018. Last year, Wilkinson started in 12 games as a fill-in for James.

Wilkinson was originally expected to compete with Garett Bolles for the starting left tackle job this summer. Now that James is no longer part of the picture, Wilkinson will be the clear favorite to start at right tackle, which means Bolles will be expected to keep his starting job as well.

Wilkinson was penalized six times and allowed eight sacks last season, according to STATS LLC. He is currently on Denver’s physically unable to perform list but should be back on the practice field by mid-August.

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Gators News: August 3, 2020

As we flip the calendar over to August, the weather and the news continues to heat up as the COVID-19 continues to disrupt our lives.

Welcome to another week on Gators Wire! As we flip the calendar over to August, the weather and the news from the sports world continues to heat up with the novel coronavirus continues to disrupt our way of life.

Major League Baseball continues to battle COVID-19, being forced to postpone several games this week as the Miami Marlins and St. Louis Cardinals sort out their outbreaks while the rest of the league looks to clamp down and avoid any further threats to the season. Additionally, New York Mets outfielder Yoenis Cespedes opted out for the season in the most dramatic fashion, essentially ghosting the team, which led to an awkward tweet by the Mets organization — basically a bad look for both the player and the organization.

Meanwhile, college football continues to push forward with its varied plans at holding a season this coming fall, but there could also be a push for the Power Five to split with the NCAA. Only time will tell.

Here is the news from the Gators Nation over the past weekend.

Around the Swamp

It’s great to be a Florida Gator!

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Lions WR Geronimo Allison elects to opt-out for 2020

Allison was expected to compete to be the team’s No. 4 WR in 2020

Geronimo Allison was the most prominent addition to the Lions wide receiving corps this offseason. However, Allison has elected to opt-out from playing in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Allison joins DT John Atkins on the opt-out list for Detroit. The veteran wideout will not play in 2020 and will receive a $150,000 advance on his contract as a result. Allison signed a 1-year, $1.05 million contract this offseason to join the Lions after spending his first four seasons with the Green Bay Packers.

The big wideout from Illinois was expected to take over the No. 4 WR role behind Marvin Jones, Kenny Golladay and Danny Amendola. He caught 34 passes for 287 yards and two TDs in 2019.

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LB/DE Lerentee McCray becomes second player to opt out for Jaguars

The Jags now have two players to opt out. Lerentee McCray now joins the list with veteran Al Woods.

Jacksonville Jaguars linebacker and defensive end Lerentee McCray will be opting out of the 2020 NFL season the team announced Saturday. With the veteran deciding to sit the 2020 season out because of concerns surrounding the coronavirus, he now joins veteran Al Woods as one of two Jags to opt out.

“With the health and safety of my family in mind, I have decided to opt out of the 2020 season during these trying times in ‘Our Nation.’ I will miss being there with my teammates, coaches and Jaguar personnel competing on Sundays, but I feel that God has directed my steps to make this decision,” McCray said via Jaguars.com.

“I was honored to be involved in our team’s social justice efforts during this offseason, and I look forward to continuing to support those affected in any way I can.  My family and I appreciate the understanding and support of the Jaguars organization and our fans. We are praying and working for the health and safety for this great country! #toughtimesdontlasttoughpeopledo”

McCray’s decision comes after signing a one-year deal this spring to help bolster the Jags’ special teams. Prior to 2020, the Gainesville, Fla. native had been with the team since 2017, garnering 26 tackles and 2.5 career sacks with the Jags. Before coming to Duval in 2017, McCray also spent time with the Denver Broncos, Green Bay Packers, and Buffalo Bills.

When looking at players with similar skill sets, the Jags seem to have a few candidates who could fill McCray’s void like Aaron Lynch, who the Jags also have listed as a defensive end and linebacker. With it initially looking like Lynch was going to be a bubble player, it appears his chances to make the team have increased. He will be coming off a two-year tenure with the Chicago Bears and a four-year one with the San Francisco 49ers where he managed to garner 97 career tackles and 20 sacks.

With McCray opting out and over a handful of players on the Reserve/ COVID-19 list, the Jags’ roster figure is now at 81 players. Due to having four locker rooms to spread players out, the Jags could move closer to 85 players if they wanted, however, it’s unclear if they will add anyone after the decisions of McCray and Woods.

Jags veteran DT Al Woods opts out for 2020 season

The Jacksonville Jaguars added their first player to the NFL’s list of opt outs Friday in nose tackle Al Woods. This comes after the veteran joined the team this offseason via free-agency after previously playing for the Seattle Seahawks in 2019. …

The Jacksonville Jaguars added their first player to the NFL’s list of opt outs Friday in nose tackle Al Woods. This comes after the veteran joined the team this offseason via free-agency after previously playing for the Seattle Seahawks in 2019.

“While I was excited to join the Jaguars, I have made the tough decision, given the current status of COVID-19, to opt out for the 2020 season,” Woods said via Jaguars.com. “The health and safety of my family has always been the most important thing in my life. I love the game of football and will be rooting hard for my teammates this season, and I look forward to re-joining the Jaguars in 2021.”

Woods’ deal was a one-year deal worth up to $2.5 million that guaranteed $1 million. The Jags added him after deciding to part ways from nose tackle Marcell Dareus, who was a key member of the defensive line.

Luckily, the Jags still have their longest-tenured veteran, Abry Jones, and third-round rookie DaVon Hamilton, who is currently on the Reserve/ COVID-19 list but could return soon.

Woods entered 2020 with 204 tackles (19 of which were tackles for loss), 5.5 sacks, and 48 starts on his 10-year career. In addition to the Seahawks, he also spent time with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Indianapolis Colts, Tennessee Titans, New Orlean Saints, and Tampa Bay Bucs.

Based on his comments, Woods said he plans to be back with the Jags next season. That could be a sign that his opt out was a voluntary one, which would make him eligible for a stipend of $150,000.

Ex-Saints guard Larry Warford opting out of 2020 season

Former New Orleans Saints guard Larry Warford decided to wait for 2021 free agency by opting out of the 2020 season after three Pro Bowls.

While he hadn’t yet chosen a new team, former New Orleans Saints guard Larry Warford has chosen to opt out of the 2020 season and will wait for 2021 free agency. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Warford’s decision.

Warford was released after the 2020 NFL Draft, not long after the Saints used their first round pick on Michigan center Cesar Ruiz. That put either Ruiz or incumbent center Erik McCoy in competition with Warford to start at right guard, but the Saints chose to release the three-time Pro Bowl alternate after receiving little interest in a trade.

However, he isn’t lacking for options now. Schefter added that Warford received multiple offers this summer as a free agent, but the option to pass on a season marred by the COVID-19 pandemic gave him an opportunity to spend more time with his family.

An interesting wrinkle is that Warford technically doesn’t have to opt out by filing a notice with any NFL teams; he simply doesn’t have to return their calls. Because there’s nothing in the NFL’s agreement with the NFL Players Association about free agents, he could hypothetically opt back in if the right situation presents itself. But that loophole might be closed as the NFL and NFLPA continue to hammer out the details in their negotiations.

Warford is the second player with ties to the Saints to opt out of the 2020 season, though he’s doing so voluntarily. Backup tight end Cole Wick was a long shot to make the team after returning from the 2019 practice squad, but he’s at an elevated health risk due to asthma, and will hope to return for another shot in 2021.

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Broncos DL Kyle Peko opts out of 2020 NFL season

Broncos defensive lineman Kyle Peko has opted out of the 2020 NFL season because of COVID-19.

Denver Broncos defensive lineman Kyle Peko is opting out of the 2020 season because of the COVID-19 pandemic, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport first reported on Tuesday.

NFL owners and the players’ union came to an agreement last weekend about player opt-out due to the coronavirus. “High-risk” players will earn $350,000 this year if they opt-out and players not placed in that category will earn $150,000. Touchdown Wire is tracking all of the opt-outs here.

Peko’s wife, Juliana, battled Hodgin’s Lymphoma last year. That might make Kyle a candidate for the “high risk” designation.

Peko has a two-year, $1.34 million contract. He was scheduled to earn $515,000 this season but was a longshot to make Denver’s 53-man roster. The Broncos have a lot of depth on the defensive line and Peko has struggled to earn playing time since joining the team in 2016.

After signing with Denver as a college free agent out of Oregon State, Peko spent most of his first three seasons on the Broncos’ practice squad. He then had stints with the Buffalo Bills and Indianapolis Colts before returning to Denver last December.

The 27-year-old defensive lineman has totaled 13 tackles in 13 games.

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Saints reserve tight end Cole Wick opts out of 2020 season

Backup New Orleans Saints tight end Cole Wick opted out of the 2020 season due to the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic, citing asthma.

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A wave of NFL players are opting out of the 2020 season due to the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic, and at least one member of the New Orleans Saints is among them. Tight end Cole Wick spent part of 2019 on the Saints practice squad before signing a reserve/futures contract in January, but he’s chosen to opt out and return for 2021. His decision was first reported by NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, with Eric Edholm of Yahoo! Sports adding that Wick opted out due to an asthma condition.

Wick faced long odds of cracking the Saints depth chart behind Jared Cook, Josh Hill, and rookie draft pick Adam Trautman, but his experience on the practice squad might have given him an edge in training camp over other backups competing for a roster spot. He was slated to earn a non-guaranteed $750,000 base salary in 2020, but will instead receive a $150,000 salary advance.

Big names around the NFL like New England Patriots linebacker Dont’a Hightower and Kansas City Chiefs guard Laurent Duvernay-Tardiff have also opted out of the 2020 season, a right which the NFL Players Association secured in negotiations with the league. While Wick is the first Saints player to choose to sit out this season during the public health crisis, he may not be the last. Stay tuned for updates.

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