Chiefs News: Damien Williams opts out of 2020 season
In Chiefs news, another player from the organization has decided to opt out of the 2020 season. This time, it’s Damien Williams.
A Chief started the trend of players opting out of the 2020 season due to COVID-19 when Laurent Duvernay-Tardif made the announcement on Friday night. Now, it’s become something a lot of players are considering or following through with.
The latest big name player to do so is Kansas City Chiefs running back Damien Williams. The announcement came on Wednesday afternoon and now makes two notable Chiefs who will not be suiting up for the 2020 season.
No one should blame Williams or anyone else who makes the decision not to play in 2020, as this is going to be a season unlike any we’ve seen before. Players who don’t feel safe taking the field this year have the right to feel that way and sit out.
Statement from GM Brett Veach
— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) July 29, 2020
“Damien Williams informed the club of his decision to opt out of the 2020 season." pic.twitter.com/dEQ2sUs9u2
Damien Williams’ decision to opt out now opens things up for the first round rookie.
Williams was going to be the RB1 for the Kansas City Chiefs, but that honor will now go to first round rookie Clyde Edwards-Helaire, who was taken 32nd overall in the draft. CEH was going to play a pivotal role on offense regardless, but now he’ll be the unquestioned number one heading into the season.
This is big for the Chiefs, but like LDT’s decision to sit out, this isn’t going to break the offense. Williams was good in the playoffs, but throughout the regular season he was injured or inconsistent. This now gives Edwards-Helaire a shot right from the jump to prove he was worthy of a first round pick.
It’ll be a bummer not to see Damien Williams take the field after he helped the Kansas City Chiefs win a Super Bowl, but props to him for making the decision he felt was best for him and his family.