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As the NFL and NFLPA fight over the guidelines for players opting out of the 2020 season, Ravens tight end Mark Andrews said he will play despite Type 1 diabetes, per the Baltimore Sun’s Jonas Shaffer. Andrews hadn’t mentioned any thought of sitting out the season, but as a player with diabetes, he is at higher risk if he were to contract Covid-19.
Right now there aren’t any hard and fast rules as to how the NFL will handle players opting out of the season due to Covid-19 risks. The NFLPA wants assurances that players will still get paid if they do opt out. And they are also pushing to protect players who do play and end up getting the virus.
We’ve already seen MLB and NBA players opt out of their seasons for one reason or another relating to Covid-19. Many linemen can officially be considered overweight and at higher risk while players are also going to be rightfully concerned about exposing their families. Much will depend on what the NFL and NFLPA decide on for protocols and assurances surrounding players. As soon as players know exactly what they are signing up for, we could hear more players consider opting out.