A third Cleveland Browns player has opted out of the 2020 season.
Defensive tackle Andrew Billings was placed on the reserve/opt-out list Tuesday, the team announced.
Billings signed a one-year, $3.5 million contract this offseason, which included a $1.5 million signing bonus. The entire deal will toll to 2021.
Players who voluntarily opt out of the season will receive a $150,000 salary advance and their contract will toll. A player deemed high-risk would receive a $350,000 stipend with no offset and an accrued/credited season with his contract tolling. It is not yet clear if Billings is considered high-risk.
The 25-year-old spent the past four seasons in Cincinnati after becoming a fourth-round pick in 2016. Billings missed his entire rookie campaign due to a knee injury. In his three seasons on the field, he compiled 3.5 sacks and 80 tackles.
Billings becomes the latest in a string of defensive tackles to opt-out this season. Thus far, nine DTs have decided not to play in 2020.
Players have until Thursday at 4 p.m. ET to opt out of the season.
Billings joins guard Drew Forbes and offensive tackle Drake Dorbeck as Browns who have opted out.
The Browns also announced they have activated running back Dontrell Hilliard and defensive back Jovante Moffatt from the reserve/COVID-19 list. Browns wide receiver Ja'Marcus Bradley was added to the reserve/COVID-19 list.
Here is other news Around The NFL is monitoring on Tuesday:
- The Giants announced they have re-signed outside linebacker Markus Golden, who led the team with 10 sacks in 2019. New York placed an unrestricted free-agent tender on Golden following the draft and regained exclusive rights to his services for the 2020 season when he had yet to sign with another team by the first day of training camp. The team also activated wide receiver David Sills from the reserve/COVID-19 list and linebacker Josiah Tauaefa was added to the list.
- Free-agent pass rushers Ezekiel Ansah and Dion Jordan are going through physicals and COVID-19 testing with the 49ers, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported, per sources. Ansah spent the 2019 season in Seattle, after playing his first six in Detroit, and recorded 2.5 sacks in 11 games. Rapoport added a deal isn't done between him and San Francisco, but the reigning NFC champs get a first look at the former Pro Bowler. Jordan spent the 2019 season with the Raiders, totaling two sacks in seven games.
- The Bills released reserve offensive lineman Spencer Long. He appeared in 14 games for Buffalo last season. Buffalo also activated defensive tackle Vincent Taylor off the reserve/COVID-19 list.
- The Colts announced linebacker Skai Moore informed the team he will opt out of the 2020 season. Moore spent the majority of the 2019 season on Indianapolis' practice squad, appearing in just one game.
- Arizona Cardinals offensive lineman Marcus Gilbert announced via Twitter he is opting out because he's at high risk. Gilbert missed all of the 2019 season with a knee injury. He started 87 of 88 games he played with the Steelers over the previous eight years.
- The Miami Dolphins announced that they activated cornerback Cordrea Tankersley off the the reserve/COVID-19 list, but subsequently waived him. They also waived long snapper Rex Sunahara.
- The Carolina Panthers were awarded running back Trenton Cannon off waivers on Tuesday. Cannon was released by the Jets on Monday.
- The Philadelphia Eagles placed guard Brandon Brooks on the active/physically unable to perform list and announced they have claimed tight end Caleb Wilson off waivers.
- The Las Vegas Raiders have waived defensive tackle P.J. Hall. Las Vegas had originally planned to release the defensive tackle on Monday, but then traded him to the Vikings. However, Hall failed his physical on Tuesday and reverted back to Las Vegas, which released him. Raiders linebacker Ukeme Eligwe, has also opted out of the 2020 season and running back Devontae Booker was activated from the reserve/COVID-19 list.
- The Atlanta Falcons announced they have waived the following players: cornerback Rojesterman Farris, defensive end Austin Larkin and defensive end Bryson Young.
- The Detroit Lions announced they activated quarterback Matthew Stafford and cornerback Justin Coleman off the reserve/COVID-19 list.
- The Jacksonville Jaguars announced they have activated quarterback Gardner Minshew and defensive back Andrew Wingard from the reserve/COVID-19 list.
- The San Francisco 49ers activated running back Jeff Wilson and wide receiver Richie James from the COVID-19 list. James was subsequently declared with a non-football injury that does not count against the active roster.
- The Baltimore Ravens have informed rookie tight end Jake Breeland they're waiving him as injured, NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reported per an informed source. Breeland is nearly 10 months removed from ACL reconstruction and is "an intriguing stash-and-develop prospect" Baltimore wants to keep through 2021 if he clears waives, Pelissero added. former Oregon standout is 9½ months removed from ACL reconstruction. An intriguing stash-and-develop prospect who Baltimore wants to keep around for 2021, if he clears waivers.
