CB Maurice Canady is first Dallas Cowboys player to take COVID-19 opt-out for 2020
Dallas Cowboys cornerback Maurice Canady is taking the voluntary COVID-19 opt-out for the 2020 season, per sources.
It was first reported by the NFL Network.
Canady appeared to confirm the news on Twitter: “Family first money second #stay safe”.
Canady signed a one-year deal with the Cowboys in March to provide depth at cornerback following the loss of Byron Jones in free agency to the Miami Dolphins.
He was set to earn $950,000 in 2020. He will be paid $150,00 for the season as a salary advance on his contract for 2021 and no accrued season.
Canady played 13 games with three starts last season, spending half the year with the New York Jets and half with the Baltimore Ravens. He entered the NFL as a 2016 sixth-round pick of Baltimore.
Canady becomes the fourth NFL player known to take the opt-out option, joining Seattle Seahawks offensive lineman Chance Warmack, Ravens returner De’Anthony Thomas and Kansas City Chiefs guard Laurent Duvernay-Tardif.
Defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence admitted last week that opting out was under consideration for him due to his wife being pregnant.
He is expected to show up for the first day of COVID-19 testing on Tuesday to open training camp. Players have until Aug. 3 to opt out.
The Cowboys still have a number options at cornerback with holdovers Anthony Brown, Chido Awuzie andd Jourdan Lewis to go with rookies Trevon Diggs and Reggie Robinson and free agent addition Daryl Worley.
This story was originally published July 27, 2020 at 6:38 PM.
