Jahmyr Gibbs and the rest of the Lions fell short of the Super Bowl with their loss to the 49ers. But on Tuesday, the rookie running back found himself on the Pro Bowl Games roster.
This year’s Pro Bowl Games events start Thursday in Orlando, Fla, with the skills championship. The main event is Sunday with the Pro Bowl Games Championship at Camping World Stadium. It’s a nice diversion for NFL fans counting the days until the Super Bowl. Once the Pro Bowl ends, then everyone can shift to Super Bowl week in Las Vegas.
Gibbs, the rookie from Alabama, made the Pro Bowl roster because 49ers standout Christian McCaffrey had to give up his spot. After all, San Francisco made the big game and is favored by two points to beat the Chiefs at Allegiant Stadium, Feb. 11.
Gibbs wasn’t the only Lions star who received an unexpected trip to Orlando. Receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown also was a late add. He replaced injured Eagles receiver A.J. Brown. It was surprising St. Brown didn’t make the roster out right. His 119 catches tied for second best in the NFL. He also set a career highs with 1,515 yards and 10 touchdowns. But after the first round of voting, St. Brown was only the first alternate behind Brown, CeeDee Lamb (Cowboys), Puka Nacua (Rams) and Mike Evans (Bucs).
Lions star St. Brown believed he got snubbed by Pro Bowl
St. Brown, the former USC Trojan, believed it to be a snub. He told reporters after the Lions season finale:
“It is what it is, but I don’t know how many 1,500-yard receivers with 10 touchdowns didn’t make the Pro Bowl, but I guess I got to try to look that up and see.” It could be an answer to a future trivia question. The only other receiver with 1,500 yards and 10 touchdowns who didn’t make the Pro Bowl was Hall of Famer Isaac Bruce. He had those stats in 1995.
For Gibbs, making the Pro Bowl showed the Lions didn’t reach to take the former Bama star with the 12th pick of the first round of last April’s NFL Draft. After all, he came the first Lions rookie running back to make the all-star game since Barry Sanders did so in 1989. Detroit had seven players selected. Gibbs and tight end Sam LaPorta made it as rookies.
Gibbs alternated this season with David Montgomery. The rookie gained 945 yards in the regular season with 10 touchdowns, while Montgomery rushed for 1,015. The other NFC tailbacks on the roster are D’Andre Swift (Eagles), Kyren Williams (Rams).
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