Eight Steelers picked for Pro Bowl
NEW YORK — The Pittsburgh Steelers lead the NFL in one category this season: most Pro Bowl players.
Wide receiver Antonio Brown, running back Le’Veon Bell and quarterback Ben Roethlisberger are among eight Steelers selected for the all-star game. They are scheduled to be joined Jan. 28 in Orlando, Fla., by tackle Alejandro Villanueva, guard David DeCastro, center Maurkice Pouncey, kicker Chris Boswell and linebacker Ryan Shazier, who is injured. Brown, also injured but expected back for the playoffs, was voted a starter, as were Bell and the three offensive linemen.
The Philadelphia Eagles and New Orleans Saints each placed six players in the game in balloting announced Tuesday.
Four rookies were chosen in voting by NFL players, coaches and fans: running backs Alvin Kamara of the Saints and Kareem Hunt of the Chiefs, cornerback Marshon Lattimore of the Saints and safety Budda Baker of the Cardinals as a special teamer. Kamara came from the University of Tennessee.
Two long snappers will be selected by each coach; the losing AFC and NFC team with the best record will have its coaching staff work the Pro Bowl.
Twenty-four of the 86 Pro Bowl selections are newcomers. That includes two of the three Rams specialists chosen: kicker Greg Zuerlein and return specialist Pharoh Cooper. Rams punter Johnny Hekker is a repeat Pro Bowler.
Five teams have no representatives: the Jets, Browns, Colts, Bears and Packers.
Others voted as AFC offensive starters: Patriots QB Tom Brady and FB James Develin, Texans WR DeAndre Hopkins, Chiefs TE Travis Kelce, Titans T Taylor Lewan and Raiders G Kelechi Osemele. On defense are Jaguars DE Calais Campbell and CBs Jalen Ramsey and A.J. Bouye, Ravens S Eric Weddle and LB C.J. Mosley, Broncos LB Von Miller, Texans LB Jadeveon Clowney, Chargers DE Joey Bosa, Titans DT Jurell Casey, Bengals DT Geno Atkins and Miami S Reshad Jones.
Voted to start on offense for the NFC: Eagles QB Carson Wentz (who is injured), TE Zach Ertz and G Brandon Brooks, Falcons WR Julio Jones and C Alex Mack, Vikings WR Adam Thielen, Rams RB Todd Gurley, Cowboys T Tyron Smith and G Zack Martin, Redskins T Trent Williams and 49ers FB Kyle Juszczyk.
Defensive starters for the NFC: Vikings DE Everson Griffen and CB Xavier Rhodes, Cardinals LB Chandler Jones and CB Patrick Peterson, Cowboys DE Demarcus Lawrence, Eagles DT Fletcher Cox, Rams DT Aaron Donald, Redskins LB Ryan Kerrigan, Panthers LB Luke Kuechly, Seahawks S Earl Thomas and Giants S Landon Collins.
Other AFC specialists are Titans punter Brett Kern, Chiefs returner Tyreek Hill and Patriots special teamer Matthew Slater.
Brown out vs. Texans
PITTSBURGH — The Steelers will have to pick up the pieces from an emotional loss to the New England Patriots without Antonio Brown.
Coach Mike Tomlin said Brown will miss Pittsburgh’s Christmas Day visit to Houston with a contusion on his left calf. The NFL’s leading receiver left in the second quarter against the Patriots after getting tangled up while trying to catch a pass in the end zone. Tomlin declined to get into the specifics of Brown’s injury and didn’t put a timetable on a possible return.
The Steelers (11-3) also will be without rookie running back James Conner, who was scheduled to undergo surgery on his right knee Tuesday. Conner, who had 144 yards rushing as Le’Veon Bell’s primary backup this season, will be placed on injured reserve. Pittsburgh filled Conner’s roster spot by signing Stevan Ridley, a six-year veteran who last played for Atlanta during the 2016 season.
The offensive line and secondary could get boosts this week, however. Right tackle Marcus Gilbert returns from a suspension for violating the NFL’s performance-enhancing-substance policy. Tomlin also thinks cornerback Joe Haden may be ready after missing five games with a broken left leg.
Packers in rare position
GREEN BAY, Wis. — This will be a strange couple weeks in Titletown.
The Green Bay Packers’ streak of eight straight postseason appearances is over. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers is done for the year after he was placed on injured reserve Tuesday.
Rodgers threw for three touchdowns and tossed three interceptions in Sunday’s 31-24 loss at Carolina in his return from a broken collarbone. Coach Mike McCarthy said there were no setbacks with Rodgers’ injury, but it made sense to shut him down.
“He took a number of hits. With all the factors involved, we felt this was clearly in Aaron Rodgers’ best interest,” McCarthy said. “He’s not happy about it. It’s a hard day for him.”
It’s an unusual time for the team as a whole.
The Packers last missed the playoffs in 2008, which was Rodgers’ first season as the starter. They’re not used to playing games this late into December without postseason implications.
Atlanta’s win over Tampa Bay on Monday night sealed Green Bay’s fate in the NFC wild-card chase. Packers receiver Randall Cobb dozed off in front of the TV while watching the game and woke up Tuesday morning to difficult news.
The Packers managed to go 3-4 in games started by backup quarterback Brett Hundley to keep their playoff hopes alive while Rodgers was out. With Rodgers done, Hundley will take over again as the starter Saturday against Minnesota, and the Packers re-signed Joe Callahan to be his backup.
So the Packers are in the unusual position of possibly playing the spoiler role. Their final foe, the Detroit Lions in Week 17, also remains in the chase for a wild-card spot.