Fansided

Big Vikings offseason signing Michael Pierce decides to opt out of 2020 season

By Max Bevington

BALTIMORE, MD - DECEMBER 29: Michael Pierce #97 of the Baltimore Ravens reacts to a play during the second half of the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at M&T Bank Stadium on December 29, 2019 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MD - DECEMBER 29: Michael Pierce #97 of the Baltimore Ravens reacts to a play during the second half of the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at M&T Bank Stadium on December 29, 2019 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

Vikings defensive tackle Michael Pierce has decided to sit out this season. 

As the NFL is attempting to carry out the beginning stages of its 2020 season, various players have expressed concern about the league’s lack of communication and its plan to get back to playing football. On top of that, multiple players have also decided to not play at all due to health risks present to them or their families.

The list of players opting out includes some high-profile names, such as New England Patriots linebacker Dont’a Hightower and Chiefs offensive lineman Laurent Dunvernay-Tardif who has a medical degree and has decided to help fight the COVID-19 outbreak instead of taking the field.

Now, another big player has been added to the list with Minnesota Vikings defensive tackle Michael Pierce announcing on Tuesday that he will not play.

Michael Pierce was the only major free agent signing for the Vikings this past offseason

Pierce spent the first part of his career with the Baltimore Ravens after being signed as an undrafted free agent in 2016.

He impressed very early on and recorded two sacks during his rookie season. The next year, Pierce started in 13 games and amassed a career-high 49 tackles.

Pierce then went on to play two more seasons with the Ravens before being signed to a three-year, $27 million contract by the Vikings in this years’ offseason. Pierce’s signing was the only big-ticket move Minnesota made during the 2020 offseason, and he was going to be the natural replacement of defensive tackle Everson Griffen, who opted out of his contract with the Vikings after the 2019 season.

Now, the Vikings are without their only major free-agent signing from this offseason and have a massive hole to fill on their defensive line. But Pierce does have a good reason for opting out.

Pierce suffers from asthma, which puts him in the category of “higher risk opt outs,” meaning that his asthma qualifies as a disease that makes him more susceptible to the virus.

Pierce is a great player who could have made a big impact for Minnesota, but since he is already more high-risk than players without underlying conditions, he had to make the decision that was best for him and his family.

Home/Minnesota Vikings