Category: Pro Bowl

Trevor Lawrence passed on Pro Bowl invite, says Peyton Manning

Trevor Lawrence didn’t participate in the Pro Bowl because it was “kind of a late notice thing,” according to Peyton Manning.

Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence was one of three AFC passers to decline an invite to the 2024 Pro Bowl Games, according to Peyton Manning.

Manning, who served as head coach of the AFC, told reporters that he spoke to Lawrence prior to the event, and said that the Jaguars quarterback didn’t participate because it was “kind of a late notice thing.”

“Talked to him this week, trying to maybe see if he was going to come down once Lamar [Jackson] was unable to play and just couldn’t — kind of a late notice thing for him, but he’s great,” Manning said, via Brent Martineau of Action Sports Jax.

When the Pro Bowl rosters were announced in January, the three quarterbacks for the AFC were Tua Tagovailoa of the Miami Dolphins, Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs, and Lamar Jackson of the Baltimore Ravens.

While Tagovailoa participated, Mahomes was unable to because the Chiefs reached Super Bowl LVIII. Jackson opted out for reasons that weren’t made public.

Those two open spots were eventually filled by the Houston Texans’ C.J. Stroud and the Indianapolis Colts’ Gardner Minshew. How many quarterbacks declined an invite before those two accepted is unclear, though. The Buffalo Bills’ Josh Allen was reportedly one of the other passers who skipped the event.

Lawrence, 24, finished his third season in the NFL with 21 touchdowns and 14 interceptions.

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Every Jaguars highlight from the 2024 Pro Bowl Games

If you missed Josh Allen, Evan Engram, and Ross Matiscik at the Pro Bowl, we’ve got you covered.

The Jacksonville Jaguars had three players participating in the 2024 Pro Bowl Games this year: pass rusher Josh Allen, tight end Evan Engram, and long snapper Ross Matiscik.

Unlike previous years, the weekend of festivities for the NFL’s all-star selections didn’t end with an actual football game.

Instead, the NFL recently replaced the game with a series of skills competitions and events culminating in a flag football game to determine the winning conference.

That meant a dizzying few days of mini-games and highlights involving Allen, Engram, and Matiscik. If you couldn’t keep up with all the Pro Bowl action in Orlando, Fla., have no fear. We’ll get you all caught up on all the Jaguars highlights from the 2024 Pro Bowl Games:

Bears CB Jaylon Johnson seals NFC’s win over AFC in Pro Bowl

Bears CB Jaylon Johnson came away with the game-sealing pass breakup in the Pro Bowl, giving the NFC a win.

The Chicago Bears were well-represented at the 2024 Pro Bowl Games, where a couple of contributors helped the NFC to victory.

Star pass rusher Montez Sweat secured crucial wins for the NFC in the Move the Sticks and Gridiron Gauntlet challenges, so it’s only right his defensive teammate, star cornerback Jaylon Johnson, finished the job.

The AFC was down by less than a touchdown as they stood only a few yards from the goal line, and the NFC needed an outstanding defensive play to seal the game. Johnson answered the call, using the entirety of his large frame to bat away Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud’s pass from standout Chargers receiver Keenan Allen, claiming the win for the NFC as time expired.

Johnson didn’t get much of an opportunity to demonstrate the skill that got him to the Pro Bowl in the first place, but he came up when his squad needed him the most. Johnson demonstrated tremendous growth throughout the 2023 season, producing a career-high four interceptions and 10 pass deflections.

Bears DE Montez Sweat reaches new heights in Gridiron Gauntlet win at Pro Bowl

Bears DE Montez Sweat helped the NFC to another Pro Bowl skills challenge win in the Gridiron Gauntlet.

The Chicago Bears are well-represented in the 2024 Pro Bowl Games in Orlando, Fla., with defensive end Montez Sweat and cornerback Jaylon Johnson.

Sweat has been a big contributor for the NFC team, helping them to two key skill competition wins on Sunday. After helping them in the Move the Chains competition, Sweat came up big during one of the Pro Bowl Games’ most anticipated events: Gridiron Gauntlet.

The Gridiron Gauntlet is a full-field relay race between six AFC and six NFC players who take on different tasks in a challenging obstacle course. Sweat participated in the High Point challenge, where he jumped on a trampoline and punched out a football in three consecutive takes.

Sweat’s teammate, cornerback Jaylon Johnson, is participating in the flag football game.

Bears DE Montez Sweat leads NFC to Move the Chains win in Pro Bowl

Watch Bears star Montez Sweat helped the NFC to a key Pro Bowl challenge win.

The NFL regular season is over, but the Chicago Bears’ brightest stars are set on representing their city in the Pro Bowl.

The NFL’s best players gathered in sunny Orlando, Fla., on Sunday to participate in the NFL Pro Bowl Games, an event that celebrates the league’s most skilled players. The Pro Bowl tradition has been in effect since 1951, but the NFL did away with the dangerous pads-and-helmet Pro Bowl game and incorporated a much safer flag football contest, as well as several activities and challenges that incorporate every position.

Bears cornerback Jaylon Johnson and defensive end Montez Sweat were selected to represent the Windy City, and Sweat has already demonstrated his immense strength in the Move the Chains contest, which involves consists of two five-man NFC and AFC squads moving weights off of a titanic wall and pulling the 2,000 pound structure across the finish line.

The Bears’ star defensive end made certain his NFC team won the contest.

Sweat tallied 6.0 sacks and three forced fumbles in eight games with the Bears. He also became the first player in NFL history to lead two teams in sacks on the year, also contributing 6.5 sacks with the Commanders. Sweat had 12.5 sacks in totality.

Johnson rapidly ascended into becoming one of the NFL’s best cornerbacks this year, snatching four interceptions and batting away 10 passes. He’s participating in the flag football contest.

Jaylon Johnson’s heart is with the Bears, but his mind is on the money

Jaylon Johnson wants to stay with the Bears, but it’s ultimately about whether they’re willing to pay him what he deserves.

Bears cornerback Jaylon Johnson is celebrating a career year in Chicago with his first Pro Bowl appearance.

Johnson is set to hit free agency next month. While he’s made it clear that he’d like to remain with the Bears for the long-term, he’s also recognized the importance of getting paid like a top cornerback that he’s become.

“Heart’s definitely in Chicago, mind’s definitely on the money,” Johnson told NFL.com at the Pro Bowl. “So, I mean, we’ll figure out if we can make them both come together and get something done. I’m looking forward to see what’s to come.”

Johnson has been an integral piece of Chicago’s defense since his rookie season, where he was a Day 1 starter and carved out a role in the secondary.  Johnson has been one of the NFL’s best kept secrets until this year, where Johnson emerged as one of the NFL’s best cornerbacks.

“No doubt. No doubt,” Johnson said. “I think just, like I was saying, just through my career, just continuing to get better, continuing to get better.”

Johnson has been an elite cover cornerback, leading all cornerbacks with a 90.8 Pro Football Focus grade, including a top coverage grade of 91.0. The one part of his game that he unlocked in his breakout season was interceptions. Before 2023, Johnson had just one career interception in three years. This year, Johnson had four, which was tied for a team-high.

“Probably the only thing I have [against me] was not getting turnovers,” he said. “But now, this year I started getting some turnovers, creating. I feel like I’ve always been an exceptional cover guy, so just being able to impact the game and make plays in the air is something I wanted to do, and I went out and did that. And now everybody knows I can take the ball away. So, I feel like there’s really not a box I can’t check.”

General manager Ryan Poles made it clear that Johnson isn’t going anywhere this year. Hopefully that means re-signing Johnson to a long-term deal. And, if worst comes to worst, Poles will have the franchise tag at his disposal to help extend talks.

How to watch, stream Pro Bowl Games championship

Budda Baker and others will compete for the title of top conference in the Pro Bowl Games.

There is no real football game but there is a flag football game as part of the Pro Bowl Games.

Arizona Cardinals safety Budda Baker is the lone Pro Bowler from the team this year and he will play with the NFC.

There will be a few events:

  • Head-to-head Madden competitions
  • Girdiron Gauntlet
  • Tug of war
  • Move the chains
  • Kick Tac Toe

There will be three flag football games.

In the end, we will find out whether the NFC or the AFC wins.

Will you be watching?

Pro Bowl Games Championship

  • When: 3-6 p.m. ET (1-4 p.m. Arizona time)
  • Where: Camping World Stadium in Orlando, FL
  • TV: ESPN, ABC, Disney XD, ESPN Deportes
  • Streaming: ESPN+, NFL+, FuboTV (Watch for free)

Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Spotify.

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How to watch 2024 Pro Bowl Games: TV channel, time, stream

Here’s how to tune in when Josh Allen, Evan Engram, and Ross Matiscik compete against the best players in the NFL.

The Pro Bowl looks a little different after the NFL overhauled the event last year. A half-hearted football game between players uninterested in tackling is no more and its been replaced by a two-day skills competition.

On Thursday, players who were selected by fans, coaches, and their peers, will compete in “Best Catch,” “Precision Passing,” “Closest to the Pin,” “High Stakes,” “Snap Shots,” and “Epic Pro Bowl Dodgeball.”

On Sunday, it’ll be “Kick Tac Toe,” “Move the Chains,” “Gridiron Gauntlet,” “Madden NFL Head-to-Head,” “Tug-of-War,” and “NFL Flag football.”

Among those competing in the events are three Jacksonville Jaguars players: pass rusher Josh Allen, tight end Evan Engram, and long snapper Ross Matiscik.

Here’s how to tune in from home when the AFC and NFC stars compete at the Pro Bowl Games:

2024 Pro Bowl Games (THURSDAY)

  • Date: Feb. 1, 2023
  • Time: 7-8:30 p.m ET
  • Location: Nicholson Fieldhouse (UCF), Orlando, Fla.
  • TV Channel: ESPN
  • Live Stream: ESPN+; FuboTV
  • Commentators: Laura Rutledge, Ryan Clark, Dan Orlovsky, Marcus Spears, Robert Griffin III

2024 Pro Bowl Games (Sunday)

  • Date: Feb. 4, 2023
  • Time: 3-6 p.m ET
  • Location: Camping World Stadium, Orlando, Fla.
  • TV Channel: ESPN, ABC, Disney XD
  • Live Stream: ESPN+; FuboTV
  • Commentators: Scott Van Pelt, Dan Orlovsky

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Bears CB Jaylon Johnson, DE Montez Sweat to participate in these Pro Bowl events

Jaylon Johnson and Montez Sweat will represent the Bears at the Pro Bowl Games. Here’s a look at the events they’ll be competing in:

The Pro Bowl Games get underway this week, where the Chicago Bears will have two representatives: cornerback Jaylon Johnson and defensive end Montez Sweat.

Johnson will participate in two events at the Pro Bowl Games: Closest to the Pin on Thursday and NFL Flag Football on Sunday.

Closest to the Pin: This golf accuracy competition will feature five players from each conference. They will drive the golf ball, working to hit it as close to the hole as possible. The winner will earn three points for his conference.

Meanwhile, Sweat will participate in two events: Move the Chains and Gridiron Gauntlet, both on Sunday.

Move the Chains: This offensive and defensive linemen strength and speed competition takes strategy and teamwork. Each team of five players must work together to move 3,000 pounds of weights off a massive wall and be the first team to pull that 2,000-pound wall across the finish line. The winner will earn three points for their conference.

Gridiron Gauntlet presented by Snickers: A full-field relay race between six AFC players and six NFC players who show off their athletic prowess in a challenging obstacle course. They’ll break through walls and crawl under doors, among other obstacles, to get to the final sled push across the field with the ultimate goal of finishing first. The winning team of each race will earn their conference three points.

Johnson had a career-high four interceptions, 36 tackles and 10 pass breakups in 14 games. He proved to be one of the NFL’s best cover cornerbacks and unlocked the takeaway aspect of his game, earning his first Pro Bowl and All-Pro nods.

Sweat transformed Chicago’s defense from one of the worst into one of the best in the league. He had a career year with 12.5 sacks and 63 pressures, earning his first Pro Bowl nod. Sweat led both the Bears (6.0) and Commanders (6.5) in sacks.

Pro Bowl Games events announced for Jaguars’ 3 participants

The Pro Bowl Games will get started tonight and Josh Allen, Evan Engram, and Ross Matiscik will all participate in events.

The 2024 Pro Bowl Games will begin Thursday night with several mini-games between the best players in the AFC and NFC.

That’ll include three members of the Jacksonville Jaguars who earned Pro Bowl honors: outside linebacker Josh Allen, tight end Evan Engram, and long snapper Ross Matiscik.

Unlike the past, there won’t be a full-fledged football game highlighting the NFL’s all-stars. Instead, smaller skill competitions will lead up to a flag football game Sunday to decide the winning conference.

Last year, quarterback Trevor Lawrence and return specialist Jamal Agnew were the Jaguars’ two Pro Bowlers. During the flag football game, Lawrence had a couple of touchdown passes, including a deep bomb to Stefon Diggs.

This year, here’s what Allen, Engram, and Matiscik will be doing at the event in Orlando, Fla.