Jackson leads Ravens’ charge into Pro Bowl
Twelve Baltimore Ravens, including second-year quarterback Lamar Jackson, and seven New Orleans Saints, highlighted by league-leading receiver Michael Thomas, have made the Pro Bowl.
Baltimore tied the record for Pro Bowl players set by Miami in 1973. The NFL released the rosters Tuesday night for the game in Orlando, Florida, on Jan. 26.
Joining Jackson from the Ravens, who at 12-2 have the league’s best record, are tight end Mark Andrews, long snapper Morgan Cox, cornerbacks Marcus Peters and Marlon Humphrey, running back Mark Ingram, linebacker Matthew Judon, fullback Patrick Ricard, tackle Ronnie Stanley, safety Earl Thomas, kicker Justin Tucker, and guard Marshal Yanda.
“This honor is all about my teammates and our coaches, because without them, the success we’ve had as a team wouldn’t be possible,” Jackson said. “I’m also grateful for all the fans who continue to support us and who have helped make this season so special. Ultimately, it’s about winning, and we still have a lot of work to do before we accomplish our biggest goals.”
Thirty teams had at least one player selected and 24 clubs had multiple players chosen. The New York Giants and Miami Dolphins failed to get any Pro Bowlers. Players on the two Super Bowl teams will withdraw from the Pro Bowl and be replaced.
Twenty-five of the players selected made it for the first time, including three rookies: San Francisco defensive end Nick Bosa, Kansas City return specialist Mecole Hardman and New Orleans return specialist Deonte Harris.
The Pro Bowl coaching staffs will be from the losing teams in the AFC and NFC divisional playoffs with the best regular-season records.
Other AFC quarterbacks are Patrick Mahomes of Kansas City and Deshaun Watson of Houston. The NFC QBs are Drew Brees of New Orleans, Aaron Rodgers of Green Bay and Russell Wilson of Seattle.
Perhaps the most star-studded spot on offense is tight end with San Francisco’s George Kittle, Philadelphia’s Zach Ertz, Kansas City’s Travis Kelce and Baltimore’s Andrews.
RAVENS ARE TOPS >> Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens have scored a perfect 10. Led by their star quarterback, the Ravens extended their winning streak to 10 games and wrapped up the AFC North with a rout of the New York Jets last week. With another win, the Ravens will clinch a first-round bye and homefield advantage throughout the AFC playoffs.
And the NFL’s top team is once again the unanimous choice as the top team in the latest AP Pro32 poll. For the third consecutive week, the Ravens earned all 12 first-place votes for 384 points in balloting Tuesday by media members who regularly cover the NFL.
“No stopping Lamar Jackson,” Fox Sports’ John Czarnecki said.
The New Orleans Saints moved up one spot to No. 2 after their dominating 34-7 win over the Indianapolis Colts on Monday night. Drew Brees became the NFL’s alltime leader in touchdown passes, throwing for four scores. He completed 29 of 30 passes — 96.7 percent — for 307 yards before being relieved by Teddy Bridgewater in the fourth quarter.
The Seattle Seahawks also moved up one place to No. 3 after topping Carolina. And the San Francisco 49ers slipped two spots to No. 4 after their 29-22 loss to the Atlanta Falcons.
The NFC West rivals are tied at 11-3. The 49ers host the Los Angeles Rams on Saturday night and the Seahawks host the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday. The Seahawks host the 49ers in Week 17 to close out the regular season.
LIONS TO RETAIN COACH, GM >> The Detroit Lions are sticking with their leaders in the front office and on the field, hoping continuity helps the franchise have success that has been elusive for several decades.
The Lions announced general manager Bob Quinn and coach Matt Patricia will be retained for the 2020 season and suddenly ended speculation about their plans with them.
“I’m always appreciative when things like this come out,” Patricia acknowledged Tuesday.
The decisions to keep Quinn and Patricia was made on a day off for players, but it didn’t take them long to hear the news.
“It’s good for them that they’ll have another year to prove what they’re all about,” Lions offensive guard Graham Glasgow said in a telephone interview with The Associated Press. “The amount of people who got hurt this year didn’t help our cause.”
Most significantly, the Lions have been without injured quarterback Matthew Stafford for six games and they won’t have him back until next season.
Detroit put Stafford on injured reserve with back and hip injuries, ending his and the team’s hopes for a comeback this season.
STILL ‘DUCK’ SEASON IN PITTSBURGH >> The Pittsburgh Steelers are sticking with rookie quarterback Devlin “Duck” Hodges.
Coach Mike Tomlin said Tuesday that Hodges will make his fourth straight start on Sunday when the Steelers (8-6) visit the New York Jets (5-9). Hodges threw four interceptions in a 17-10 loss to Buffalo last weekend, including picks on each of Pittsburgh’s final two drives. Tomlin said the undrafted rookie free agent — who is 3-1 as a starter — had earned the right to bounce back. FOURTH-AND-INCHES >> The New Orleans Saints have acquired former New York Giants starting cornerback Janoris Jenkins.
The acquisition became official on Tuesday after the NFL processed the Saints’ request to claim Jenkins through the league’s waiver system.
The Giants waived Jenkins after he declined to acknowledge wrongdoing when he used offensive language in an exchange with a fan on social media. Jenkins’ official designation was waived-injured because of his minor ankle injury during a Week 14 loss to Philadelphia that dropped the Giants to 2-11.
• The New York Jets have placed rookie offensive lineman Chuma Edoga and wide receiver Jeff Smith on season-ending injured reserve.
The moves Tuesday give the Jets 18 players currently on IR in what has been an injury-filled season for the franchise.
New York also signed wide receiver Keon Hatcher to the practice squad, replacing center Ryan Crozier who was released.
• The NFL suspended Denver Broncos safety Kareem Jackson on Tuesday for the final two regular season games for violating the league’s substance abuse policy.
Jackson was arrested Sept. 19 on suspicion of driving under the influence. He pleaded guilty Monday to one count of driving while alcohol impaired, according to the Denver district attorney’s office. He was sentenced to 12 months of supervised probation, 24 hours of public service and participation with Mothers Against Drunk Driving’s victim impact panel.
• The Tennessee Titans have waived kicker Ryan Santoso.
• Linebacker Raekwon McMillan was placed on injured reserve Tuesday by the Miami Dolphins with a hamstring injury that will force him to miss the season’s final two games.
Linebacker Calvin Munson was signed off the New England Patriots’ practice squad to take McMillan’s roster spot. Munson, an undrafted college free agent in 2017, started five games that year for the New York Giants.
McMillan started 12 games this season and totaled 72 tackles.
• The New York Giants have placed tight end Evan Engram on injured reserve, ending another injury-filled season.
In making the move on Tuesday, the Giants said wide receiver David Sills had been signed off the practice squad and tackle Nate Wozniak was signed to the practice squad.