Shazier selected to second Pro Bowl
He won’t be able to play, but Ryan Shazier has made the Pro Bowl.
The Steelers inside linebacker, who had a serious spinal injury four weeks ago that required surgery, joined seven other teammates in the Pro Bowl, the most in the NFL.
Others include Ben Roethlisberger, Le’Veon Bell, Antonio Brown, David DeCastro, Alejandro Villanueva, Maurkice Pouncey and Chris Boswell.
Those are the most Steelers to make it since nine were selected in 2005.
It was Roethlisberger’s fourth consecutive Pro Bowl and sixth overall. Brown, the NFL’s leading receiver in catches and yards, made it for the sixth time.
Bell, the NFL’s leading rusher with 1,222 yards, made it for a third time.
It is Shazier’s second selection to the Pro Bowl. He made it as a replacement a year ago.
The Steelers have three of their offensive linemen in the all-star game. DeCastro earned his third Pro Bowl selection, Pouncey his sixth and Villanueva his first. Boswell also made his first.
The game will be played the week before the Super Bowl, Jan. 28 at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Fla.
More Pro Bowl
Philadelphia and New Orleans 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 Cardinal.s 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. Five teams have no representatives — Jets, Browns, Colts, Bears and Packers.
Packers
Green Bay’s streak of eight 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 three interceptions in a 31-24 loss Sunday 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.
Panthers
The NFL reduced linebacker Thomas Davis’ suspension from two games to one after his appeal. Davis was suspended Monday after his helmet-to-helmet hit on Green Bay receiver Davante Adams.