I mentioned last week that this was about to happen, but it bears repeating now that it’s a reality. Regardless of who won the AFC Championship Game, the Raiders would have had one more Pro Bowler this week if not for injury.
Had the Titans won, Derrick Henry would not be going to the Pro Bowl, and Josh Jacobs would be in line to replace him as an alternate. But Jacobs is recovering from a broken shoulder, so he would have been passed up.
The Chiefs won the game, so Travis Kelce is out, which would have had Darren Waller next in line to go to the Pro Bowl. But Waller had thumb surgery immediately following the season, so he was passed up for Colts tight end Jack Doyle.
Many times Pro Bowl snubs get in anyway because of Pro Bowl starters heading to the Super Bowl or getting injured and bowing out. But that isn’t always the case. Sometimes snubs don’t get their due. This was such a case.
Waller’s 1145 receiving yards was second in the NFL among tight ends behind only Kelce (1229). He was 15th overall at any position. And yet somehow Ravens tight end Mark Andrews was chosen over him.
Had Waller been selected as a starter, it wouldn’t matter whether he was injured. He’d still get Pro Bowler on his resume. Now he’s left out altogether. At least he got that nice extension midway through the season.
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