Howard picked for Pro Bowl

Cornerback only player from Dolphins selected for Orlando showcase

Only one Miami Dolphins player was selected to the Pro Bowl on Tuesday.

Here’s a look at who was selected, and who may have been snubbed from the 2019 Pro Bowl, which will be held at Camping World Stadium in Orlando on Jan. 27, 2019:

Selection

CB Xavien Howard: Howard, a second-round pick in his third season, has become one of the league’s best cornerbacks and could be a future cornerstone of the Dolphins defense.

Howard leads all NFL defenders with eight turnovers forced. His seven interceptions are tied for the NFL lead, and a product of his 12 passes defensed. He also has a fumble recovery this season.

Howard has three games in which he caught two interceptions, including two in a row against Indianapolis and Buffalo.

Howard has appeared in 12 games this season, and hopes to return from a two-game absence after reportedly having his knee scope.

This is Howard’s first Pro Bowl selection of his career.

Howard is the fourth cornerback in Dolphins history to earn a Pro Bowl selection, joining Sam Madison (1999-2002), Patrick Surtain (2002-04) and Brent Grimes (2013-15).

Behind Howard, safety Reshad Jones and Grimes, the Dolphins have had a member of their secondary play in the Pro Bowl in five out of the past six years.

Biggest snub

LT Laremy Tunsil: Tunsil, a former first-round pick also in his third season, has also proven he can be a future staple of the Dolphins offense in his second year as Miami’s starting left tackle.

Tunsil is the only left tackle to start at least 13 games and not allow a sack this season, according to STATS LLC. He also has only six penalties this year, with only two coming in his past nine games.

Tunsil has improved significantly from a season ago, where he allowed six sacks and committed 12 penalties in 2017.

Tunsil has appeared in all but one game for the Dolphins this season, missing the Green Bay game to rest a left knee injury.

Although Tunsil was not selected for his first career Pro Bowl, he could be selected as an alternate.

Also a snub?

LB Kiko Alonso: Linebacker Kiko Alonso is the only Dolphins player to play every defensive snap this season — 960 in all through 14 games.

Alonso is fourth in the NFL with 121 combined tackles, including 79 solo tackles this season.

Alonso also his three interceptions, six passes defensed, three fumbles forced and a fumble recovery for the Dolphins this year. His three interceptions are tied for second among all NFL linebackers, and his three forced fumbles are tied for 10th in the NFL.

Although Alonso was not selected for his first career Pro Bowl, he could be selected as an alternate.

DB Walt Aikens: Aikens, Miami’s special teams’ captain, leads the Dolphins with 10 special teams tackles, including seven solo tackles, this season. He has been a vital part of the Dolphins’ special teams unit in his five seasons with the team.

Taking a look back: Jones and Jarvis Landry represented the Dolphins in the Pro Bowl in 2017, while Landry was joined by running back Jay Ajayi, defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh and defensive end Cameron Wake in 2016.

The Dolphins have had a player selected for the Pro Bowl every year since 1998. The last time only one Dolphins player was selected was defensive end Jason Taylor in 2007.