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Players beginning to opt-out of 2020 NFL season due to COVID-19

Training camps around the NFL will open on Tuesday after the NFL and NFLPA agreed on work conditions that will help combat the COVID-19 pandemic. Among the options available to players, per the agreement, is the ability to opt-out of the 2020 season, which several veterans are already taking advantage of.

One team that's had a significant number of players declare their intentions to sit out is the Patriots, who will be without starting linebacker Dont'a Hightower in 2020, among others.

Five Patriots are opting out of the 2020 NFL season:

LB Dont’a Hightower
RB Brandon Bolden
OT Marcus Cannon
FB Danny Vitale
G Najee Toran

(via @AdamSchefter | @JFowlerESPN) pic.