Tag: 2022 Pro Bowl

Photos, video of Titans at Thursday Pro Bowl practice

“I feel extremely blessed to be here with the best players in the NFL, and to be amongst them is a great honor,” Harold Landry said of being in the Pro Bowl.

While the Tennessee Titans’ 2021 season is over, there are four players from the team who have just one more game to play. That game is the 2022 Pro Bowl, which will take place on Sunday, Feb. 6 in Las Vegas.

The four Titans taking part are safety Kevin Byard, defensive lineman Jeffery Simmons, outside linebacker Harold Landry, and left guard Rodger Saffold.

Of the four, Byard was the only one initially voted in. Saffold, Simmons and Landry are all replacements for injured players.

Adding to those four, the entire Titans coaching staff is in charge of the AFC squad, with head coach Mike Vrabel leading the way. Tennessee’s coaching staff got the honors after being the highest-remaining seed to be eliminated from the postseason in the divisional round.

Tennessee’s four Pro Bowlers all took part in practice on Thursday. Here’s what they had to say about playing in the Pro Bowl, as well as some photos and videos of them taking part in practice, per Jim Wyatt of Titans Online.

Russell Wilson crushes competition in Pro Bowl precision passing event

Watch No. 3 do his thing.

Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson just absolutely crushed the competition in the 2022 Pro Bowl precision passing event. Wilson didn’t get much help from teammate Justin Jefferson, but he racked up 29 points and a win for the NFC team, drawfing the pathetic numbers from the AFC’s team of Mac Jones and Hunter Renfrow.

Watch No. 3 do his thing.

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LOOK: Robert Quinn, Jakeem Grant representing Bears at Pro Bowl

Here’s a look at Bears EDGE Robert Quinn and RS Jakeem Grant at Pro Bowl practice.

While there wasn’t much to celebrate during the Bears’ 2021 season, there were some impressive individual performances that certainly have the future looking bright.

Edge rusher Robert Quinn and wide receiver/return specialist Jakeem Grant were both named to the Pro Bowl for their impressive seasons, where they proved to be among the best at their positions.

Quinn recorded a single-season franchise record 18.5 sacks, where he registered at least half a sack in 14 of 16 games he played. He recorded 13 sacks in the final nine games. He also totaled 49 tackles and 17 tackles-for-loss, a team-high. It was a sensational bounce-back season after a rough first year in 2020, where Quinn totaled just two sacks.

Grant was a late addition to the roster in an Oct. 5 trade with the Dolphins, but he made an immediate impact as a return specialist. In 11 games with the Bears, Grant averaged 11.9 yards per return, third in the NFL, with one touchdown on 26 returns. He also averaged 23.4 yards per kickoff return on 23 returns, which ranked 11th.

With Pro Bowl week in full swing, the Bears Twitter account shared a look at Quinn and Grant both in Las Vegas for Pro Bowl practice on Thursday:

The 2022 Pro Bowl will be played Sunday, Feb. 6 in Las Vegas at Allegiant Stadium.

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Cowboys’ Zack Martin to opt out of 7th Pro Bowl appearance

The Cowboys guard joins Tyron Smith in electing not to play in the all-star event, it’s the second straight Pro Bowl Martin will miss. | From @ToddBrock24f7

Cowboys left tackle Tyron Smith announced Monday he would not be playing in this year’s Pro Bowl, citing injury. Now his linemate Zack Martin is opting out as well.

The 31-year-old guard was honored with his seventh Pro Bowl nod for the 2021 season. 2020 was the only year Martin was not named to the NFC squad, as he was pressed into service at a new position along a battered O-line and then missed much of the year with a calf strain.

Now it appears the Notre Dame product will sit out the all-star event for a second straight year, this time of his own accord.

Along with Martin and Smith, quarterback Dak Prescott has declined the chance to go to Las Vegas as an alternate, choosing instead to begin his offseason prep for the 2022 campaign.

The Cowboys will have four players representing the NFC on Sunday; linebacker Micah Parsons, cornerback Trevon Diggs, and punter Bryan Anger were all named to the Pro Bowl in late December. Wide receiver CeeDee Lamb will also go, filling in for the Rams’ Cooper Kupp.

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Cowboys LB Micah Parsons to represent NFC in Pro Bowl Madden 22 Edition for world record attempt

The uber-competitive rookie phenom will be part of a world record attempt as the video game will be projected over the Las Vegas Strip. | From @ToddBrock24f7

Micah Parsons will be looking to take down the AFC both days of Pro Bowl Weekend… and maybe set a new world record in the process.

The Cowboys rookie linebacker will be teaming up with Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson to represent the NFC in the Pro Bowl Madden 22 Edition, to be played Saturday evening in Las Vegas, a day prior to the league’s annual all-star game.

Parsons and Jefferson will take on the AFC, led by Browns running back Nick Chubb and Chargers safety Derwin James. The teams will reportedly play “Superstar KO multiplayer mode,” with the action to be streamed on the NFL’s YouTube, Twitter, and Facebook pages, as well as the official Madden Twitch account and iHeart Radio.

As if that weren’t enough, organizers of this year’s event will be aiming for the Guinness World Book of Records, too, as the largest projected video game display, to be shown over the famous Las Vegas Strip.

Ex-Bengals star Chad Johnson will host the game at Allegiant Stadium with Charissa Thompson; former NFL running back Marshawn Lynch will join in as well.

Given how ultra-competitive Parsons has proven to be this year over everything from bowling to chess to Connect Four to Scrabble to locker room trash can basketball, it’s fair to say the self-proclaimed “best Madden player in the league” is eager to notch a win in this contest, too.

Then on Sunday, Parsons will suit up alongside his NFC teammates for the 2022 Pro Bowl to close out his incredible rookie season.

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Tyron Smith backs out of Pro Bowl; Dak Prescott turns down alternate spot

Tyron Smith cites injury as his reason for sitting out the all-star game; Dak Prescott wants a head start on a full offseason of rest. | From @ToddBrock24f7

There’s only a little bit of football left to be played to close out the 2021 NFL season. There’s the Rams and the Bengals squaring off for a ring and a ticker-tape parade, and there’s the handful of superstars elected to represent their conferences at the Pro Bowl this Sunday.

And two Cowboys have declined the opportunity to take part.

Left tackle Tyron Smith, honored with his eighth Pro Bowl nod, has announced he will not play due to injury. The veteran missed several games this season with an ankle injury.

The Cardinals’ D.J. Humphries will take Smith’s place.

Smith was named to the NFC squad last month, along with Cowboys teammates Micah Parsons, Trevon Diggs, linemate Zack Martin, and Bryan Anger.

Wide receiver CeeDee Lamb will join them as an alternate, filling in for Cooper Kupp, who will be preparing for Super Bowl LVI.

But there was talk of another Cowboys alternate, too. Quarterback Dak Prescott reportedly turned down the chance to play in his third Pro Bowl, in order to give himself a head-start on a full offseason of rest.

Prescott spent last offseason in rehab for his ankle dislocation, but also suffered a shoulder strain during training camp and a calf strain during the regular season.

Kirk Cousins replaces Aaron Rodgers, and Russell Wilson replaces Tom Brady; they’ll join Arizona’s Kyler Murray as the NFC signal-callers.

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Cowboys’ CeeDee Lamb officially named to Pro Bowl as replacement for Cooper Kupp

Lamb led the Cowboys in receptions and receiving yards; now he’ll fill in for the league leader in both categories in the all-star contest. | From @ToddBrock24f7

CeeDee Lamb can now officially make his plans for Las Vegas.

The Cowboys’ second-year receiver has been named to the 2022 Pro Bowl in an alternate role. Lamb will be taking the roster spot of Los Angeles Rams star Cooper Kupp, who will be otherwise occupied preparing for Super Bowl LVI.

Lamb’s nod was expected late last week, but the Cowboys traditionally do not announce which of their players have been selected as alternates for the league’s annual all-star game. USA Today did report in late December, though, that defensive end Randy Gregory was also named an alternate.

Lamb led the Cowboys’ top-ranked offense in receptions and receiving yards in 2021. Now he’ll fill in for Kupp, who led the league in both categories.

A promotion for someone was guaranteed, since both teams in the conference championship game featured a receiver with a Pro Bowl invite. (Deebo Samuel was so honored for the 49ers.)

The 22-year-old Oklahoma product will join an NFC receiving corps that includes Samuel, Minnesota’s Justin Jefferson, and Tampa Bay’s Mike Evans (who will be filling in for injured Green Bay superstar Davante Adams).

Five other Cowboys players got the Pro Bowl call: Micah Parsons, Trevon Diggs, Zack Martin, Tyron Smith, and Bryan Anger. The game will be played February 6 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.

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Panthers CB Stephon Gilmore added to NFC Pro Bowl roster

Stephon Gilmore isn’t done playing for the Carolina Panthers quite yet, as the 10th-year CB was named to his fourth straight Pro Bowl on Sunday.

Turns out, Stephon Gilmore hasn’t played his last game while representing the Carolina Panthers.

On Sunday night, the 10th-year cornerback was officially added to the NFC’s roster for the 2022 Pro Bowl. This will be Gilmore’s fourth consecutive selection to the all-star event and his fifth overall.

Despite playing in just eight games this season, with a chunk of those outings coming through limited action, the former AP Defensive Player of the Year clearly made an impression in Carolina. He totaled 13 tackles and a pair of interceptions over 304 snaps in 2021.

According to Pro Football Focus, Gilmore allowed 15 receptions and 155 yards over 22 targets. That, in part, was good enough to yield a 77.1 overall grade—which ranked 14th amongst 134 qualifying cornerbacks.

The 31-year-old, who is open to staying put, is set to hit free agency this spring. The Rock Hill, S.C. native came back home as part of a surprising midseason swap with the New England Patriots.

But, for now, he’ll join his teammate and fellow standout defender Brian Burns at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nev. next Sunday.

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Raiders WR Hunter Renfrow named to 2022 Pro Bowl squad as injury replacement

Hunter Renfrow added to Pro Bowl team, bringing Raiders 2022 Pro Bowl total to four

You get in where you fit in. And in that regard, Hunter Renfrow now has a Pro Bowl on his resume, the team announced Sunday.

The Raiders slot receiver was named to the Pro Bowl as a replacement for injured Chargers receiver Keenan Allen. Also opening a spot on the team was Ja’Marr Chase headed for the Super Bowl. Though the same would’ve happened if the Chiefs had won as Tyreek Hill was on the squad.

Renfrow earned the trip with a season for the franchise record books. His 103 receptions this season were the second most in a single season by a Raiders receiver in franchise history, behind only Hall of Famer Tim Brown. And Renfrow’s 1038 yards made him the team’s first 1000-yard wide receiver since Amari Cooper in 2016.

The Raiders will now field four Pro Bowlers in the game which will be held in their home stadium. The other three are DE Maxx Crosby, LB Denzel Perryman, and P AJ Cole.

Cowboys’ CeeDee Lamb expected to be named 2022 Pro Bowl alternate

A spot on the all-start team will open up on Sunday evening, and the second-year receiver will likely slide into the opening. | From @StarConscience

It was a mini-miracle that wide receiver CeeDee Lamb fell to the Cowboys at 17 in the 2020 NFL draft. Despite only playing four full games with quarterback Dak Prescott, Lamb had a productive season with 74 receptions for 935 yards and five touchdowns.

The expectation was for Lamb to make a significant Year 2 jump in 2021. It didn’t quite happen but his numbers went up across the board. He led the Cowboys in receptions (79), yards (1,102), and yards per catch (13.9) and was tied for second in receiving touchdowns (6).

According to Michael Gehlken of the Dallas Morning News, this production is expected to land Lamb a spot on the NFC’s 2022 Pro Bowl roster as an alternate.

The NFC Championship game featuring the Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers is the key to a spot opening up. Cooper Kupp and Deebo Samuel are among the five receivers named to the club, and one of them will become ineligible for the all-star event by virtue of being a part of the Super Bowl. While some teams announce their players who are named alternates when the teams are announced, the Cowboys do not.

Lamb was dominant in the slot as a rookie leading the NFL in several categories. However, with Michael Gallup missing eight games in 2021, Cedrick Wilson became the Cowboys’ primary slot threat and Lamb moved to the outside with Amari Cooper. The Cowboys’ offense flourished with this lineup for a large part of the season and led the league in points per game and yards.

Lamb has a drop issue that he needs to get under control but no matter where he lines up he produces, and he still hasn’t reached his potential yet.