Hurts among 6 to earn All-Pro honors
Associated Press released its NFL All-Pro teams on Friday, and as expected, the Eagles were well-represented.
Right tackle Lane Johnson and center Jason Kelce were named first-team All-Pro while quarterback Jalen Hurts, wide receiver A.J. Brown, edge rusher Haason Reddick, and cornerback James Bradberry all earned second-team honors.
Kelce was named a first-team All-Pro selection for the fifth time (2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022), while Johnson earned the distinction for the second time in his career (2017, 2022). Both players, along with corner Darius Slay, were chosen by their peers to the inaugural NFL Players’ All-Pro team which was released earlier this week. Kelce’s brother, Travis, also was named to the first team.
“This is something you always strive for when you play,” Johnson, 32, said Friday. “Having a great team around me, it all goes together. But as you get older, your sense of urgency increases. So you see you’re in the back half of your career and you want to milk it dry. That’s where I’m at.”
The All-Pro teams are determined by a panel of 50 sportswriters and broadcasters who cover the NFL. One media member gave Hurts a first-place vote while 49 gave firstplace
votes to Patrick Mahomes, placing the Kansas City Chiefs quarterback on the first team.
A serious MVP candidate until he was injured on Dec. 18 against the Chicago Bears, Hurts threw for 3,701 yards, 22 touchdowns, and just six interceptions in 15 games this season. On the ground, he added another 760 yards and 13 touchdowns while leading the Eagles to a 13-1 record before suffering the shoulder injury. The 24-year-old is just the fourth Eagles quarterback to be named an All-Pro since 1960 after Norman Van Brocklin (1960), Randall Cunningham (1988, 1992), and Carson Wentz (2017).
Hurts was sidelined for two
games with his injury to his throwing shoulder before he returned in Week 18 and led the Eagles to a crucial 22-16 victory over the Giants that secured the team home-field advantage and an opening-round bye. The third-year quarterback continues to receive daily treatment as the Eagles prepare to host a divisional-round playoff game on Jan. 21 or 22.
Brown, Reddick, and Bradberry earned All-Pro honors after joining the Eagles during the offseason.
Brown, who was acquired at the draft from the Tennessee Titans, finished fourth in the NFL in receiving yardage with 1,496 yards and tied for third in touchdowns with 11. Meanwhile, Reddick, who grew up in Camden, had a banner debut season after signing as a free agent with the hometown Eagles. The linebacker tied for second in the NFL with 16 sacks, which trailed only Nick Bosa’s 18.5. Bradberry, who is a free agent at the end of the season, finished third in the league with 17 pass breakups and second in passer rating.
“I haven’t really had a chance to reflect on it because we’re preparing to make a playoff run,” Reddick said. “We want to win our way to the Super Bowl. I’ll have some time this weekend to reflect on it, I’ll probably send mass texts to everybody that I’m appreciative of, things of that sort. I’ll try to soak in the accomplishments this week.
“I’m finally being recognized. I’m clearly not satisfied. But I’ll take these victories as they come. I’ve been working hard to change the narrative that was put out my first couple of years. I’m trying to change that, change my path, and be the best NFL player I can be. Right now, I’m really honed in on making this playoff push and trying to get to Arizona for the Super Bowl.”
Added Bradberry: “We’ve still got more games to play, so we’ve got to keep it going. I’m very proud of myself and my availability and consistency. I try to make myself known as a consistent player every year. This has been the best [season] of my career so far. You can’t beat this right now.”