First player for Buccaneers opts out for 2020 NFL season
By Rob Leeds
The first player for the Buccaneers has opted out of the 2020 NFL season, and while it isn’t a starting player, it is not an easy loss.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have been fortunate not to lose any of their star players so far to the opt-out process for NFL players if they want to take extra precautions due to COVID-19.
Numerous teams have lost some extremely talented players who have made the difficult decision to sit out for the year, and more big names could follow over the next few hours.
All players have until 4 pm EST to make the decision, and once they do so, they cannot take their decision back. For the Bucs, offensive tackle Brad Seaton has decided to sit out for the year, as reported by Tom Pelissero on Twitter.
#Bucs tackle Brad Seaton is opting out of the 2020 season. He qualifies for the higher-risk stipend. His statement: pic.twitter.com/xUmS5qX5TR
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) August 6, 2020
The former Buccaneer practice squad member detailed how difficult this decision was. Still, no one will ever blame a player for keeping their family at the forefront of their decision-making process.
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Seaton hasn’t played the most significant role for the Buccaneers over the past few years, but backups will be more critical in 2020 than ever before. The offensive line positions are roles where backups don’t get a ton of reps, but that could change this year.
If a single offensive lineman on the starting line contracts the virus, the rest of the line could immediately move into the league’s COVID-19 protocol. This would mean that all five starters could have a mandatory 14-day quarantine before they can return. This is obviously a worst-case scenario but is still worth preparing.
Because the Buccaneers are doing everything in their power to keep Tom Brady as protected as possible, keeping sufficient depth on their O-line for contingencies like this is extremely important. Seaton may not have seen the field during a typical year, but his chances were much greater during 2020.
This loss will hurt Tampa Bay in one way or another, and now a new face will have to step up to fill the hole created to keep the team ready for the season to begin.