NFL All-Pros: Kelce, Jefferson unanimous; 16 first-timers
Travis Kelce and Justin Jefferson are unanimous choices for The Associated Press 2022 NFL All-Pro Team, and Sauce Gardner is the first rookie cornerback selected in 41 years.
The Chiefs’ Kelce and the Vikings’ Jefferson received first-team votes Friday from all 50 members of a nationwide panel of media members who regularly cover the league.
Kansas City quarterback Patrick Mahomes, San Francisco 49ers edge rusher Nick Bosa and Chiefs defensive lineman Chris Jones each got 49 of 50 first-team votes. The Chiefs and Niners led the way with four players each on the first team.
Gardner, the fourth overall pick by the New York Jets, was named on all 50 ballots, receiving 43 first-place votes. Pro Football Hall of Famer Ronnie Lott was the last rookie cornerback chosen for the first team in 1981.
“That’s a big deal to me,” Gardner told the AP. “It was one of my goals before training camp. It’s something I pray for. I worked so hard for it. It’s a true blessing for sure.”
Kelce’s older brother, Jason, also earned first-team honors for the fifth time in his career to stay one ahead of his passcatching brother.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Josh Jacobs is among the 16 first-time All-Pros. Jacobs led the NFL in rushing with 1,653 yards, scored 12 touchdowns rushing and averaged 4.9 yards per carry. The Raiders had three first-team picks despite finishing 6-11.
■ CHARGERS: Mike Williams will miss the Los Angeles Chargers’ AFC wild-card round game against the Jacksonville Jaguars due to a lower back fracture.
The sixth-year wide receiver was downgraded to out on Friday after further rests. The Chargers said the X-ray on Sunday and an MRI on Monday both were negative but a rescan Friday morning showed a small transverse process fracture.
Williams didn’t practice all week after being injured late in the first half of last Sunday’s 31-28 loss at the Denver Broncos. Coach Brandon Staley said earlier in the week he thought Williams would be on the practice field at some point and the injury didn’t appear serious.
Williams’ injury will ratchet up the heat on Staley, who played his starters a significant amount against the Broncos in a regular-season finale with nothing at stake.
Williams was sidelined for four games this season because of an ankle injury. He had 63 receptions for 895 yards and four touchdowns in 13 games.
■ BROWNS: Jadeveon Clowney now says he’s sorry.
Clowney said he apologized to Browns star Myles Garrett more than a week after the defensive end criticized Cleveland, saying the organization favored his teammate and was more focused on getting him to the Hall of Fame than winning.
Clowney also claims his comments in an interview with cleveland.com were “completely misrepresented” and “taken out of context.”
The Browns disciplined Clowney for his statements, sending him home before practice a week ago and then leaving him home for the season finale at Pittsburgh. The Browns finished 7-10.
“As a son and parent I want to fully apologize to anyone I offended, specifically Myles Garrett and his family,” Clowney said. “As a man I have reached out to Myles specifically to apologize. I will continue to learn and grow as a I move forward.”
Clowney spent two seasons with the Browns. After reviving his career with nine sacks in 2021, he only had two this season and missed four games with injuries.
The 29-year-old is not under contract for next season, and it’s unlikely Cleveland would want him back following his late-season stunt.