The Ravens had numerous players on the roster admit that opting out of the 2020 season due to concerns about the coronavirus pandemic cross their minds.
One player who didn't have such concerns, however, was tight end Mark Andrews.
Andrews, who has Type 1 diabetes, could be at a greater risk for COVID-19 should he contract it. But Andrews checks his blood sugar levels daily and says he's on top of taking care of himself.
"I'm a healthy person," Andrews said Monday on a Zoom call with reporters. "I worked really hard from a very young age of keeping my body in the best shape, keeping tight control of my blood sugar. At the end of the day, that's the most important thing. So at the end of the day, I'm treating myself like a normal person. If I were to get the COVID, and I were to have it, it would interact just like anybody else because I treat myself just like anybody else would. And my numbers are great."
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The Ravens had two players opt out for the season - tackle Andre Smith and wide receiver/kick returner De'Anthony Thomas. Andrews, who is 23-years-old, added that the way the Ravens are taking care of the facility in Owings Mills made a difference to him
"Opting out never really crossed my mind," he said. "Obviously, I think that safety is the most important thing and seeing what the NFLPA and the NFL have come up with, and the system is extremely encouraging. For me, there was never any, ‘I may opt out or I may not play.' I've always been very strong in my beliefs that, one, I'm healthy. I keep my body healthy. And I'm going to do everything necessary to make sure I don't get COVID."
Offensive tackle Ronnie Stanley said that, while the thought of opting out crossed his mind, he wanted to compete.
Throughout the NFL, the opt-outs were commonplace amongst offensive and defensive linemen, as people with a BMI of 30 or more face an increased risk for severe symptoms.
"It definitely crossed my mind, but I'm a person (that) I want to play," Stanley said. "I'm just a competitive person. It would take a really high-risk to keep me out of the building."
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Ravens tight end Mark Andrews: Opting out never really crossed my mind originally appeared on NBC Sports Washington
