NFL players must decide by July 2 if they plan to opt out of playing this season due to COVID-19 concerns, though players who voluntarily opt out will not be paid any stipend this year.

The league and the NFL Players Association agreed that only high-risk players will receive a stipend of $350,000. Voluntary opt-outs received a $150,000 stipend in 2020.

To qualify as high risk, a player must have opted out last season and have an effective contract executed before Oct. 1, 2020, or have been newly diagnosed with a CDC-defined higher-risk condition.

A total of 67 players opted out last year before vaccines were available.