LA Chargers News: Every Charger player will be playing in 2020.
There has been no LA Chargers news reported that any players are opting out of the 2020 season, which is great news for the Bolts moving forward.
As part of the new collective bargaining agreement for the 2020 season, which was prompted by the coronavirus pandemic, players were given the option to opt-out of the 2020 season if they chose.
There were two sub-categories within the opt-outs themselves: voluntary opt outs and high-risk opt-outs. All in all, 66 players ended up opting out of the 2020 season and will not be allowed to opt-out at a later date unless they get a new diagnosis that they are high-risk or if a player’s family member is affects by COVID-19.
The deadline to opt-out passed at 1 p.m. PDT on Thursday. Not a single LA Chargers players opted out of the 2020 season.
LA Chargers News: Fellow AFC West opt-outs
There were some opt-outs that impact the LA Chargers as several members of the other three teams in the AFC West opted out.
Denver Broncos: DT Kyle Peko, RT Ja’Wuan James (both high-risk)
Kyle Peko is a depth defensive lineman for the Denver Broncos that decided to opt-out for the 2020 season. While the Broncos lose depth, they are not losing an impact player in the process.
The team did take a big hit when it was announced that Ja’Wuan James would be opting out of the season. The Broncos already have a suspect offensive line and losing the starting right tackle definitely does not help that.
However, and it really should go without saying but we must reiterate this, the health and safety of these players is most important every. single time.
Las Vegas Raiders: DB D.J. Killings, DE Jeremiah Valoaga, LB Ukeme Eligwe (all high-risk)
The Las Vegas Raiders had three players opt out of the 2020 season but none of which were truly impactful players that will make a massive difference in the AFC West standings. Neither Killings, Valoaga nor Eligwe have played a snap with the Raiders before the 2020 season.
Kansas City Chiefs: OL Laurent Duvernay-Tardif (voluntary); RB Damien Williams, OT Lucas Niang (high-risk)
The Chiefs lost some impact players as well. Laurent Duvernay-Tardif is the team’s starting right guard and Lucas Niang was drafted in the third round of the 2020 NFL Draft to provide line depth. Patrick Mahomes is now without both of them in 2020.
Damien Williams is one less weapon on the offensive side of the ball and will open the door for Clyde Edwards-Helaire to be the number one featured back. Edwards-Helaire was selected in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft by the Chiefs.