When the rosters for the Pro Bowl Games were announced on Jan. 2, the AFC quarterbacks were Josh Allen of the Buffalo Bills, Joe Burrow of the Cincinnati Bengals and Lamar Jackson of the Baltimore Ravens.
But when the final rosters for this week’s Pro Bowl Games activities were announced on Tuesday, the AFC quarterbacks were Burrow, Russell Wilson of the Pittsburgh Steelers and Drake Maye of the New England Patriots.
That list might have included Denver Broncos rookie Bo Nix.
The former Pinson Valley High School and Auburn quarterback had the opportunity to go to the Pro Bowl Games as a replacement player after Allen and Jackson pulled out. But Mike Klis of KUSA-TV in Denver reported Nix had to decline the invitation because of a “routine and minor cleanup procedure” already scheduled for this week. The report did not detail what part of Nix’s body was undergoing the procedure.
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Nix apparently got his chance as the fourth alternate. Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes can’t participate because he’s going to Super Bowl LIX. Justin Herbert of the Los Angeles Chargers and C.J. Stroud of the Houston Texans were reported as the next two alternates on the list, but neither is coming to the event.
Among the remaining AFC quarterbacks who started at least 10 games, former Alabama All-American Tua Tagovailoa missed the final two games of the Miami Dolphins’ season because of a hip injury, and Trevor Lawrence of the Jacksonville Jaguars missed the final seven games after sustaining a concussion and shoulder injury.
That left Aaron Rodgers of the New York Jets, Will Levis of the Tennessee Titans and Anthony Richardson of the Indianapolis Colts along with Wilson and Maye as AFC quarterbacks who started at least 10 games in 2024.
Wilson missed the first six games of the season, and Maye posted a 3-9 record as a rookie starter. But they have replaced Allen and Jackson, considered two of the top contenders for the NFL MVP Award this season.
The original Pro Bowl players were picked by the vote of fans, coaches and players, with each group’s choices counting one-third toward the choices.
The 7-on-7 flag football game featuring the Pro Bowl players will be held on Sunday at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida, as the culmination of a multi-day AFC vs. NFC competition in which all-stars will demonstrate their football and non-football skills in a variety of competitions.
ESPN will televise the Pro Bowl Skills Show at 6 p.m. CST Thursday. ABC and ESPN will televise Sunday’s events, including the flag football game, at 2 p.m.
Ten players from Alabama high schools and colleges remain on the Pro Bowl rosters:
- Detroit Lions strong safety Brian Branch (Alabama)
- Houston Texans wide receiver Nico Collins (Clay-Chalkville)
- Pittsburgh Steelers free safety Minkah Fitzpatrick (Alabama)
- Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs (Alabama)
- Baltimore Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey (Hoover, Alabama)
- Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs (Alabama)
- Cleveland Browns wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (Alabama)
- Green Bay Packers free safety Xavier McKinney (Alabama)
- Denver Broncos cornerback Patrick Surtain II (Alabama)
- New York Jets defensive tackle Quinnen Williams (Wenonah, Alabama)
Williams was added as a replacement for Kansas City defensive tackle Chris Jones.
Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry (Alabama) and Philadelphia Eagles guard Landon Dickerson (Alabama) were original selections for the Pro Bowl Games but will not be participating.
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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on X at @AMarkG1.