Washington Football Team defensive lineman Caleb Brantley has opted out of the upcoming NFL season — making him the first Washington player to withdraw over coronavirus-related concerns.
Brantley, 25, was designated as a “higher-risk opt out,” meaning he’ll gain an accrued season and earn a stipend of $350,000. If Brantley had not been deemed as such, he would have earned $150,000 and not gained an accrued season.
Brantley had spent the last two seasons with Washington, signed in 2018 after he was released from the Cleveland Browns. He was part of the team’s defensive line rotation and re-signed with Washington this offseason on a one-year deal. After playing in seven games in 2018, Brantley missed all but one game last year with a foot injury.
Even with Brantley’s opt-out, defensive line remains a crowded position from Washington as it transitions from a 3-4 to a 4-3 under coach Ron Rivera. The team has taken a defensive lineman in the first round in four consecutive drafts — using the second overall pick in 2020 to select Chase Young.
In three seasons, Brantley has had 19 tackles and two sacks.
• Matthew Paras can be reached at mparas@washingtontimes.com.
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