Bears' Eddie Goldman expected to return following COVID-19 opt out

Chicago Bears starting defensive tackle Eddie Goldman was one of the dozens of NFL players who opted out of the 2020 season due to concerns related to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

While Goldman and others won't have to report for team activities until months down the road, the Bears are already planning for the 27-year-old to be back in the lineup. 

Per Josh Alper of Pro Football Talk, new Chicago defensive coordinator Sean Desai told reporters on Monday that the Bears believe Goldman will return for the 2021 campaign. Goldman has not yet confirmed his decision. 

The Bears selected Goldman in the second round of the 2015 NFL Draft, and he was named to the All-Rookie Team that year. In total, he's recorded 12.5 sacks, 153 total tackles, and a pair of fumble recoveries during his career. According to Nick Shook of the league's official website, Goldman signed a four-year extension that could be worth more than $42 million and that included $25 million in guarantees in September 2018. 

As Smith wrote last summer, Goldman chose not to play in 2020 due to health issues that potentially made him high-risk for COVID-19.