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Patriots' Cannon among several NFLers reportedly opting out of season

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The list of NFL players opting out of the 2020 season is growing fast.

New England Patriots starting right tackle Marcus Cannon, who battled non-Hodgkin's lymphoma early in his career, will sit out the upcoming campaign due to concerns over the coronavirus, Karen Guregian of the Boston Herald reports.

Cannon started 15 games for the Patriots in 2019. His absence would leave a hole in New England's offensive line that could prove difficult to fill with training camp imminent and the roster featuring little in the way of experience at offensive tackle.

Patriots fullback Danny Vitale will join Cannon on the sidelines after Vitale's agent confirmed the decision to Jarrett Bell of USA Today. Vitale and his wife, Caley, are parents to a newborn baby.

Patriots guard Najee Toran, who signed a future contract in January after finishing 2019 on New England's practice squad, has also decided to skip the year, according to Jim McBride of The Boston Globe.

Baltimore Ravens wide receiver and return specialist De'Anthony Thomas kicked off the small exodus of players when the Ravens announced his decision to sit out the campaign Monday afternoon.

Seattle Seahawks offensive lineman Chance Warmack will also skip the 2020 season, sources told NFL Network's Mike Garafolo, as will Dallas Cowboys cornerback Maurice Canady.

Kansas City Chiefs guard Laurent Duvernay-Tardif was the first NFL player to opt out due to the coronavirus, announcing Friday he won't suit up for the defending Super Bowl champions this fall. The 29-year-old has a medical degree and has been serving as a frontline worker amid the pandemic.

The NFL and NFLPA agreed to CBA changes for the 2020 season last week, including a two-tiered opt-out plan for players. Those considered to be at "low risk" from COVID-19 will reportedly earn $150,000 if they opt out, while players deemed to be high risk can earn $350,000 and an accrued NFL season if they choose to skip the season.

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