Chiefs RB Damien Williams reveals why he chose to opt out of the NFL season

Kansas City Chiefs running back Damien Williams has pulled out of the 2020 NFL season amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the team announced Wednesday. On Thursday, Williams joined SiriusXM NFL Radio to reveal why.

“For me, it was kind of a cut, straight, simple, fair,” Williams said. “I am dealing with a family issue: my mother has just been diagnosed with cancer and is stage IV.”

Stage IV means that the cancer has spread to other organs or parts of the body. Williams explained that as the oldest of three children in his family, there was no other choice to make.

“With everything that’s going on, she was the only one there for me. I never had a chance to have my dad there. My mom is my rock, my everything. During a difficult time like this, I think I should be by his side at every step. “

Williams described turning to her circle, her family and close friends, while debating whether to play. His mother told him that, no matter what he finally decided, she would be behind him.

That was to spend the year out, and Williams called general manager Brett Veach to tell him the news.

“At the end of the day, it is difficult,” he added. “Soccer is my life, especially when I come out of a championship and I want to repeat, which, I know they will drive. But at the end of the day, it’s something personal that I had to deal with. “

Williams’ opt-out came just four days after that of right-wing guard Laurent Duvernay-Tardif, who will instead stay in Montreal to continue his work as an orderly hospital.

The Chiefs thus lost two offensive starters in less than a week.

“It hurts, man,” tight end Travis Kelce said through a Zoom conference call Thursday. “It hurts, but at the same time, you can obviously respect both decisions. I love those boys. It doesn’t make me feel bad about any of them. I totally respect what they’re doing, and you know what? I think head coach (Andy) Reid, Veach, will do an amazing job trying to fill that gap. The boys we have in that locker room can fill the void. I honestly really believe that. We have an incredible roster, and I am very excited to see how this group is formed. “

Williams was a key part of the Chiefs last two postseason runs, and was a candidate to win the MVP award in the Super Bowl LIV victory thanks to his 133-yard performance and two touchdowns. With Williams out for the year, the Chiefs will turn to first-round rookie Clyde Edwards-Helaire.

“He is a versatile player,” linebacker Anthony Hitchens said. “Our job is to prepare him for Week 1 as a defense: show him different looks, practice a lot, try to send the ball, have good coverage of it and I think we have a lot of veterans who are going to do that.”

Due to the unique circumstances of this offseason and the agreement between the NFL and the players’ association, Edwards-Helaire will not have the luxury of working in preseason games as dress rehearsals.

Hitchens didn’t seem concerned about that when it came to preparing the new starter.

“You can prepare for Week 1 by practicing, especially at this rate and speed that Coach Reid presents to us,” he explained, “so I’m more than sure that he will be ready for Week 1, and who is everything.” playing running with him. I know that if you show up to practice and practice a lot, you will be ready for week 1. You have no choice. Either you follow the rhythm or you fall behind. “

As for whether Williams plans to return to the Chiefs to play next year?

“Definitely,” he said abruptly. “Right now, my mind is there for my mother, but I am also working hard, without missing a beat … my boys work hard every day at work, working for the city (Kansas City). I can’t just sit down and get up and let this be a setback. This is not what this is. I’m going to be there for my mother, but I’m going for it.

“I plan to go back and I plan to do it again.”