Kansas City's starting right guard won't be helping the team defend its Super Bowl title this year. Laurent Duvernay-Tardif received a medical degree from McGill University and has been working to fulfill his requirements to become a doctor in the off-season. The 29-year-old spent this past off-season serving Covid-19 patients and decided that the only coronavirus-related risk he would take this season would be for patients, not football fans. "Being on the frontline during this offseason has given me a different perspective on this pandemic and the stress it puts on individuals and our healthcare system. I cannot allow myself to potentially transmit the virus in our communities simply to play the sport that I love," he explained. Duvernay-Tardif became the first NFL player to opt out of the season, after the NFL and its players association agreed to an opt-out clause for this season. Those who choose to do so voluntarily will reportedly receive a stipend in lieu of their contractual salary, while those with medical opt-outs will receive a higher stipend.

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