Bucs OT Brad Seaton Opts Out of 2020 Season

Reserve lineman is the first Tampa Bay player to opt out amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Offensive tackle Brad Seaton has become the first Tampa Bay Buccaneers player to opt out of the 2020 NFL season due to the COVID-19 pandemic (per NFL Network's Tom Pelissero):

#Bucs tackle Brad Seaton is opting out of the 2020 season. He qualifies for the higher-risk stipend. His statement: pic.twitter.com/xUmS5qX5TR

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) August 6, 2020

Seaton joined the Bucs' practice squad last season and was slated to compete for a backup tackle role in training camp. He was mentioned by Arians last week as a possible fill-in for starting left tackle Donovan Smith when it appeared he might opt out (via the Tampa Bay Times' Rick Stroud):

Arians: If Smith did opt out...""we’d work out a bunch of guys. Joe Haeg has played over there. Tristan could play over there. Brad Seaton. We’ve got some guys if he decided not to play, we’d be ready to go. https://t.co/0uYA2NFZlR

— Rick Stroud (@NFLSTROUD) July 28, 2020

Seaton was a bubble player heading into camp at a position in dire need of depth. Though the Bucs may miss him, the health of him and his family came first.