Patriots CB Devin McCourty said Patriots players who opted out of the 2020 season will return in 2021.
New England had a league-high eight players opt out of the 2020 season, an option offered to players who did not want to play while the COVID-19 pandemic raged. “From my understanding they’ll all be back,” McCourty told NBC Sports’ Tom Curran on Friday. That would include standout linebacker Dont’a Hightower, tackle Marcus Cannon, safety Patrick Chung, tight end Matt LaCosse, running back Brandon Bolden, fullback Dan Vitale, receiver Marqise Lee, and guard Najee Toran. Unless the team upgrades at wideout in the coming months, Lee could instantly become the team’s best receiver if he’s active in 2021. There was some question as to whether Hightower would return next season; McCourty seems to think he will. Hightower’s return would be a crucial addition for one of the league’s most talent starved teams.
