AVENTURA, FLORIDA – JANUARY 29: Laurent Duvernay-Tardif #76 of the Kansas City Chiefs speaks to the media during the Kansas City Chiefs media availability prior to Super Bowl LIV at the JW Marriott Turnberry on January 29, 2020 in Aventura, Florida. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images)
Chiefs starting right guard Laurent Duvernay-Tardif has made the decision to sit out the 2020 season due to COVID-19.
The first NFL player has announced their decision to sit out this season and it’s Chiefs offensive lineman Laurent Duvernay-Tardif, who announced his decision on Friday night.
Duvernay-Tardif, who the Chiefs drafted in the sixth round of the 2014 NFL Draft, also practices medicine during the offseason, which has helped lead him to this decision.
The decision obviously wasn’t an easy one for LDT, as it means he won’t suit up and play for the Super Bowl defending champs, but it makes sense for him and no one can blame him – or anyone else – who makes the same decision.
Laurent Duvernay-Tardif is the first player to opt-out
LDT’s decision now opens up competition along the offensive line for the Chiefs. They have guys like Martinas Rankin, Mike Remmers, Andrew Wylie, and third round rookie Lucas Niang to battle for both guard positions now.
This is the first of these decisions to come, but it probably won’t be the last.
The fact that Duvernay-Tardif is the first player to opt-out should really come as no surprise. The Chiefs lineman is also a doctor and has been at the frontlines of the fight against COVID-19 from the very start of the pandemic.
What fans should be wondering now is whether or not other Chiefs players will follow his lead. Patrick Mahomes, not only the face of the Chiefs franchise but the face of the NFL, has been outspoken on how he feels the approach to the season feels unsafe as it is, and demands there be protocols put in place to make things safer for players this season.
Duvernay-Tardif is a notable name, but he’s not a well-known entity for the casual fan. The question is whether or not he’s the stepping stone to a player with a much larger platform sitting the season out, which could create a tidal wave of followers.