Ravens’ QB Huntley??? among Pro Bowl adds

If you hadn’t heard, the NFL has jettisoned the traditional Pro Bowl format — in which its best players make an ostensible effort over the course of a full-contact game — for a more leisurely collection of activities including dodgeball, golf, water balloons, something called “kicktac-toe” and flag football. It’ll be the best company picnic ever, writes Matt Bonesteel of The Washington Post.

But the selection process remains the same: Pro Bowl honorees are chosen via voting by fans, players and coaches. The Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes, the Bills’ Josh Allen and the Bengals’ Joe Burrow received the most votes among AFC quarterbacks and were the original representatives at that position. But Mahomes is playing in the Super Bowl, so he’s out, and both Allen and alternates Tua Tagovailoa of the Dolphins and Lamar Jackson of the Ravens are excused from the Pro Bowl because of injuries (or, perhaps more honestly in Allen’s case, golf). Burrow also is not participating, per multiple reports.

That led Tuesday to the elevation of three alternates to the NFL’s all-star celebration: Jacksonville’s Trevor Lawrence, Las Vegas’s Derek Carr and — Ravens QB Tyler Huntley?

Huntley’s résumé is not exactly Pro Bowl worthy. It might not even be Cheez-It Bowl worthy. To wit:

• He played in six games this season after Jackson got hurt and threw just two touchdown passes ... and three interceptions.

• His regular season QBR of 41.2 would have ranked 13th among AFC starting quarterbacks had Huntley compiled enough plays to qualify. That’s slightly worse than Indianapolis’s Matt Ryan (who lost his job) but slightly ahead of Denver’s Russell Wilson (who lost his teammates).

• Forty-seven NFL players had more passing yards and passing TDs than Huntley.

• The Ravens did not score more than 17 points in any of Huntley’s starts.

• Though Huntley actually had a pretty good game in the Ravens’ AFC playoff loss to the Bengals he’ll be mostly remembered for fumbling away Baltimore’s chances of an upset (pictured).

Carr’s participation, meanwhile, will be at least a little awkward. He’ll be representing the Raiders for what’s likely to be the final time, after they benched him late in the season to keep him healthy for the trade market. Plus, the Pro Bowl will be played in Las Vegas, where Carr has spent the past three seasons after the Raiders’ move from Oakland.

Still, Carr seemed happy to be invited Tuesday on Twitter:

“Well... maybe this invitation got lost in the mail from past seasons but I’m going back to pro bowl #4. See you soon Vegas!”