Kansas City Chiefs running back Damien Williams opts out of 2020 season

Chiefs running back Damien Williams has informed the team he won’t be playing this season

With the Kansas City Chiefs looking to repeat as Super Bowl champs in 2020, it looks like they’ll have to do so without one of their key offensive weapons.

Moments ago, news broke that speedy Kansas City running back Damien Williams has informed the team that due to the coronavirus, he will not be playing this fall and will instead be taking the year off. Surely this is a bummer for Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs’ offense, as Williams joins starting guard Laurent Duvernay-Tardif on the team’s opt-out list.

Duvernay-Tardif was the first player in the NFL to opt out for 2020, letting fans know in an emotional Twitter post that he’d rather fight the battles against the coronavirus on the front lines instead of going to war in the trenches on the gridiron. He’s been showered with love and support from his teammates following his decision, with the same expected to come for Williams.

Kansas City players, including Patrick Mahomes, have come out and said they’ll respect all of their teammates who decide not to play this year due to the strange times we’re all living in the middle of this global pandemic.

Should there be an NFL season, the Chiefs would be without a key running back, but the team just selected former LSU standout Clyde Edwards-Helaire in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft. You can fully expect his workload to increase throughout the season with Williams now opting out.

Williams led the Chiefs in rushing last season with 498 yards and five touchdowns. Now, it looks like the spotlight will be on Edwards-Helaire, who already had big expectations leading up to his rookie campaign.