Laurent

Duvernay-Tardif

Duvernay-Tardif is best known for his decision to step away from the NFL during the 2020 COVID pandemic to serve on the frontlines in a long-term care facility in Montreal. A medical graduate and former sixth-round pick, Duvernay-Tardif returned to the league in 2021 to play for the Jets, and remained with the team through two seasons while appearing in 13 games. Duvernay-Tardif was a member of the Chiefs’ 2019 Super Bowl team, and started all 14 games he appeared in that season.

On a depth chart that is stinging from the losses of Alijah Vera-Tucker, George Fant, and Mekhi Becton, Duvernay-Tardif is the latest bandage applied by Jets GM Joe Douglas. Duvernay-Tardif had a 53.2 PFF blocking rating with the Jets in 390 snaps last year after being acquired in a November trade. He’ll start on the practice squad.

Duvernay-Tardif, now 31, is again putting his football career on hold to revisit his career as a doctor, something he did during the COVID season of 2020. LDT was traded from the Chiefs to the Jets in November last season and started 7-of-8 games for Gang Green. He’s merely a replacement-level guard at this point in his football life. We applaud him for his efforts in medicine.

Duvernay-Tardif hasn’t played a single down of football since 2019, opting out during the pandemic and breaking his hand over the summer. He was active in Monday night’s win for the first time all year but did not play. Brown, a core special teamer with New York, will do as much with the Chiefs.

“I would anticipate both these guys getting out there and practicing this week,” Veach said. "...I think Blythe may be only a week away. I think LDT will get out there and do some stuff this week and test that hand. I think both these guys should be shorter than the three weeks so it would make sense to just practice and see how they feel.” Duvernay-Tardif broke a bone in his hand early in training camp. Blythe played in the first preseason game before undergoing surgery to repair a sports hernia. Both are listed as backups on the team’s initial depth chart.

Rapoport added that Duvernay-Tardif’s injury won’t require surgery and that he still has a chance to be ready for Week 1. The veteran guard opted out of the 2020 season to serve as a frontline worker during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Pro Football Focus graded him as an above-average pass blocker in 2019 but the Chiefs listed him as a second-stringer in their first unofficial depth chart. Trey Smith, a sixth-round rookie from Tennessee, was listed as the starter at right guard. With Duvernay-Tardif likely out for the rest of training camp, Smith should hold onto the starting role heading into Week 1.

Both players opted out of the 2020 season but appear ready to return for the team next year. It’s difficult to say what the risks of playing will be next season but the 2020 season went well and things should continue to improve in the NFL’s second year while operating under COVID-19 protocols. Duvernay-Tardif started 14 games for the Chiefs in 2019 and 60 games dating back to 2015. Damien Williams broke out in 2019 with 711 yards and seven scores before performing extremely well in the playoffs. His return will ensure that the Chiefs don’t bring back Le’Veon Bell and could murky the water of their backfield. Clyde Edwards-Helaire cost the Chiefs a first-round pick but hasn’t been meaningfully better than UDFA back Darrel Williams.

A medical school graduate, LDT has spent the offseasons working in the medical field. Obviously, this offseason has been much different than ones past, as Duvernay-Tardif has been on the frontlines of the COVID pandemic, working in a long-term care facility in Montreal as a doctor. “This is one of the most difficult decisions I have had to make in my life, but I must follow my convictions and do what I believe is right for me personally,” Duvernay-Tardif wrote. “That is why I have decided to take the Opt Out Option negotiated by the league and the NFLPA and officially opt out of the 2020 NFL season. Being at the front line during this offseason has given me a different perspective on this pandemic and the stress it puts on individuals and our healthcare system. I cannot allow myself to potentially transmit the virus to our communities simply to play the sport I love. If I am to take risks, I will do it caring for patients. I want to thank everyone in the Kansas City Chiefs organization for their support and understanding.”

Kansas City needed some cap space to give them flexibility ahead of the 2020 NFL Draft, so Duvernay-Tardif’s contract gets adjusted. These types of moves happen all the time in the offseason and usually don’t mean that much in the grand scheme of things. He’s in the middle of a five-year, $42 million contract. His cap hits are in the $8 to $10 million range annually.

Activated from injured reserve this week, Duvernay-Tardif was able to practice in full Thursday and Friday, but he apparently is not quite ready to return. Andrew Wylie will continue to start in his place. The Chiefs also declared LB Dorian O’Daniel (ankle), OL Kahlil McKenzie, OL Jimmy Murray, WR Kelvin Benjamin, TE Deon Yelder, and OLB Tanoh Kpassagnon inactive.