A total of 66 players have opted out of the 2020 NFL season because of the coronavirus pandemic, nearly half of them linemen.
Twenty offensive linemen and 11 defensive linemen opted out before Thursday’s deadline. Players with a medical opt-out will receive a $350,000 stipend, while those voluntarily opting out receive $150,000 as an advance against future salaries.
No team came close to the New England Patriots in losing players for the upcoming season, which begins Sept. 10 with the Houston Texans visiting the Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs.
The Patriots, already minus several stars who left in free agency — including, of course, Tom Brady to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers — saw eight players opt out: running back Brandon Bolden, offensive tackle Marcus Cannon, safety Patrick Chung, linebacker Dont’a Hightower, tight end Matt LaCosse, wide receiver Marqise Lee, offensive lineman Najee Toran and fullback Dan Vitale.