Denver Broncos starting right tackle Ja'Wuan James has opted out of the upcoming NFL season due to COVID-19 concerns.

He tweeted a signed letter on his personal account. 

James said he consulted with many of his Broncos' teammates and family members, who he personally thanked in the letter. 

“It is tough, but the right decision,” he said. “There's just too much unknown about the virus and about plans handling it forward.”

Of course, an important factor in his decision involved his newborn son —  and he’s not the first one to do so. Eagles’ wide receiver Marquise Goodwin also opted out of the season in order to protect his newborn daughter. 

In the letter, James shared that he saw one of his family members diagnosed with the COVID-19 virus and is not risking any more of his own by joining the season. While the Broncos star insists that the public must stay resilient against the pandemic, he believes that we must still be willing to make the hard choices to protect those around us. 

“We can't live in fear or just confine ourselves just to our homes but we all have to make the right conscious choices and navigate through day to day life to protect our neighbors.”

James also encourages his fans and teammates to keep their hopes up despite these trying times. 

“Everyone make sure to stay positive through these crazy times and enjoy your loved ones. I hope 2021 will be a better year for all of us. Take care of yourselves, because ultimately, health is wealth.”

The 28-year-old tackle is only entering the second year of his four-year, $51 million deal with the Broncos. He didn't see much of last season playing in only three games due to knee injuries.