Bradberry, Engram land in Pro Bowl
You’re going to want to sit down for this one.
The Giants had two players elected to this year’s Pro Bowl: corner James Bradberry and … tight end Evan Engram?
That’s right. Engram has made his first Pro Bowl despite a rocky 2020 season that has seen him often visibly frustrated with his own inconsistencies.
Engram leads the Giants with 54 catches and is their most explosive offensive player with Saquon Barkley out for the year. But Engram’s 54 receptions have come on 95 targets.
He has 572 receiving yards, two total touchdowns, a lost fumble, and six dropped passes (third-most among all receivers), including one that cost the Giants the game in Week 7 at Philadelphia.
Engram, 26, has improved as a run blocker, though, and finally has stayed healthy. And Niners stud George Kittle played only six games before he was lost for the year, opening the door in the NFC.
Engram’s election would appear to reflect that his peers respect him despite his up-anddown season. Pro Bowl rosters are determined by fans, players and coaches, with each group’s vote counting as an equal third.
“I’m really just truly thankful,” Engram told the Giants’ website.
Engram’s election came as such a surprise, he wasn’t even asked about the possibility on Monday afternoon when made available to the local media.
This is because in addition to the Lions’ T.J. Hockenson, the NFC has several other tight ends who have had better years, including Washington’s Logan Thomas (62 catches, 570 yards, five TDs) and the Packers’ Robert Tonyan (49 catches, 551 yards, 10 TDs).
Regardless, the Giants have two Pro Bowl selections this year after having none in 2019.
Bradberry, 27, of course, was expected to challenge for his first career Pro Bowl appearance as one of the NFL’s best corners this season. The Giants signed him as a free agent from the Panthers this offseason.
“It’s a surreal feeling,” Bradberry told the Giants website.
Bradberry has 17 passes defended, three interceptions, two forced fumbles, a fumble recovery, and 47 tackles in 13 games.
Unfortunately, his election comes on the heels of missing Sunday’s loss to the Browns because he was a high-risk close contact to a chiropractor who had tested positive for COVID-19. His absence devastated the Giants’ defense.
Bradberry, who was not made available to the media on Monday, told the Giants website he was “disappointed” he couldn’t be on the field with his team. He was activated from the NFL’s covid reserve list on Monday because he fortunately continued to test negative himself.
The NFL cancelled the actual Pro Bowl due to the coronavirus pandemic.
No Jets were voted to the Pro Bowl.