Updated: 11:33 a.m.
The Patriots will reportedly be without one of their best players in the 2020 season.
Star linebacker Dont’a Hightower is opting out of the 2020 season, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Hightower joins a growing list of Patriots who have decided to opt out of this season during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Losing Hightower is a big deal for the Patriots, especially after Jamie Collins and Kyle Van Noy left in free agency.
And now Patrick Chung has opted out.
A short while after reporting Hightower’s opt-out, Schefter reported that running back Brandon Bolden has also decided to opt out. Bolden, Hightower and Chung join OT Marcus Cannon, FB Danny Vitale and OL Najee Toran, which means the Patriots have reached six opt outs for 2020.
According to the CBA COVID amendments, players have seven days from the finalized agreement to opt out. There are two kinds of opt outs. The voluntary opt out comes with a $150,000 salary advance. The higher-risk opt out comes with a $350,000 stipend.
NFL
While the Patriots have the most players to opt out so far, they’re not the only ones. Former Eagles OL Chance Warmack, now with Seattle, has also reportedly decided to opt out.
So far, we haven’t heard of any Eagles deciding to opt out. The Eagles will finish reporting to training camp today for their COVID-19 tests.
Subscribe and rate the Eagle Eye podcast:
Apple Podcasts / Google Play / Stitcher / Spotify / Art19
Click here to download the MyTeams App by NBC Sports! Receive comprehensive coverage of your teams and stream the Flyers, Sixers and Phillies games easily on your device.