Packers: Devin Funchess only player to opt out of 2020 season
The deadline for players to opt out of the 2020 season has passed. Devin Funchess is the only Packers player to opt out.
Every player in the NFL had the option to opt out of the 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. To do so, they’d need to inform their team of their decision by 3 p.m. CT on Thursday. That deadline has now passed, and no more Green Bay Packers players have decided to opt out.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, five players in the NFL opted out of the season on Thursday ahead of the deadline. None of them were Packers players.
Wide receiver Devin Funchess made the decision to opt out of the season last week. It won’t have been an easy decision for Funchess, who only played in one game for the Indianapolis Colts last season. But he will get his opportunity with the Packers next year as his contract rolls over into 2021.
In total, seven players from the NFC North have opted out, including Funchess. One of them is former Packers wide receiver Geronimo Allison, who signed with the Detroit Lions this offseason.
According to NFL.com, players will still be able to opt out of the season beyond the deadline:
"“A player can still opt out later if one of the following applies: if that player gets a new diagnosis that he has a high-risk condition; or if a player’s family member dies, is hospitalized or otherwise moves to a medical facility because of COVID-19 or related condition.”"
Moving forward, the Packers have their 80-man roster set, although they’ll need to make roster moves in order to get players back from the reserve/COVID-19 list.
So far, there have been five players added to the reserve/COVID-19 list for the Packers: kicker Mason Crosby, tight end Jace Sternberger, defensive lineman Treyvon Hester, long snapper Hunter Bradley, and linebacker Greg Roberts.
The Packers have reported for training camp, and head coach Matt LaFleur said the first practice will be held on Saturday, Aug. 15. That’s less than a month before the Packers’ first regular season game against the Minnesota Vikings.